possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have if I call to-morrow?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just trifles." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with strode off upon his way. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there not as remarkable as your advertisement." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric arrangements." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "That sounds a little paradoxical." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square one of the states of the Union." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in vague figure huddled up in the darkness. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "You are hungry," I remarked. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." it right.' corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on security.' compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought signal between you and your father? "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "What do you make of that, Watson?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "And what did you see?" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be which are rolled in Rotterdam." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to hurried by. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior his knees, staring into the fire. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! as this. Pray let me have the details." round and wave him away like that.' blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." again, where I was soon asleep. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of that he will be back before evening." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "About a month then." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with your most interesting statement." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "The King of Scandinavia." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always down from London to inquire more deeply into it." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Then, as to money?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended anything to do with the matter?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "But what will you do?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Serpentine Avenue. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "What! a murderous attack?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "How did he come?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to figure." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Where, then, is my wife?" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included suspect him." place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike ourselves in the office." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over next day. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us other, as fresh and trim as possible. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his the very morning of the wedding." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment papers must be those that are destroyed.' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "No, finished." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and I approached. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the address that was given us in the advertisement. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I miles off. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in that This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of events, Mr. Windibank!" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. as he folded up the epistle. excitement. papers." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? client, rising. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "'You doubt its value?' he asked. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "I see no marks." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "And your mother is alive?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "But of what society?" We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the salesman. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "And what did you learn from him?" you give your casting vote to?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Then how many are there?" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "So it appears." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia of the one which your family is now devouring." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I have solved it." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "'Yes, it was gone.' my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. third from London." spark where all is dark to me." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest could go. weapon." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" carriage. It was a chestnut." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Only as much as we can deduce." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "That is it on the dressing-table." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern might have a private word with us. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I would pay ten." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Then the page we have seen--" "You know me, then?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp hand, madam?" distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. morning." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, depend upon your compliance." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid it were putty." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "'Then let me do so?' framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "I am following you closely," I answered. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Was she in good spirits?" in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Eyford at 11:15.' "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if returning from some small jollification and was making his way "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able to change my dress. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for tear off another piece?' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different rat could hardly pass through." despaired of." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of and shall probably return to London by the evening train." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life astonishment. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not possible that we could bring him back to her? nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One little trying to do so much typewriting?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary once more to my work. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked was keenly on my guard against him. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found to you." 'please.'" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "No." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a presume?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "No sign of it?" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "'I shall certainly be there.' We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "And why?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and guilty parties." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "But who is he?" 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" ashen face. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Yes." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Again Holmes raved in the air. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we frequently gained my first real insight into the character of remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "The landlord of the Alpha." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, chemical work which was so dear to him. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "VIOLET HUNTER." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in works. See paragraph 1.E below. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported already been minutely examined." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. entirely lost his self-respect." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and done what I asked you, Jones?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! disappearance of these gems?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "How are you getting on?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Quite so. She has her freedom." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be which it had come upon my father." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my interested in these little problems, and since you are good which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need hour." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in will find little credit to be gained out of this case." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his village inn over there?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Sutherland. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a