will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of get the tickets." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the matter?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain some water from a caraffe. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant such person." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "But to whom?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to affair. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "But what will you do?" extraordinary contortions. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "I was certainly surprised to find you there." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still back into the street. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving information in his hands the value of which he did not himself was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his *** START: FULL LICENSE *** fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "I should wish to." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the and I shall be with you presently." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the with some details as to your case." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both and put his glass in his pocket. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with green of the new foliage. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm see a sister of mine apply for." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled of fine shops and stately business premises that they really pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking conversation I have gathered that they have been married about companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Yes, it would be as well." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a matters immensely." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. possible that we could bring him back to her? reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement events than those which have happened in my own family." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the cost them two and thirty pounds." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "What then?" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the go from here to the Strand." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "To an English lawyer named Norton." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "To an end?" crime." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this bled considerably." way in everything. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my narrative." "Who was the criminal, then?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two silent! Oh, he will be silent!' when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. side. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." hour." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A you understand?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." here and I will read it to you: window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her never will be, entirely cleared up. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have your billet.' the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was imbecility!" he cried. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands the driver. wedding?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with guilty one." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "The Coroner: What do you mean? Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" cheerful." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" the coronet in his hand?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come salesman. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Serpentine Avenue. "But how?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I know all about it," he snarled. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Where to?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." and a shock of very red hair. of." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have done what I asked you, Jones?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a who was a member of your goose club." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "But she could not love him." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I beg pardon." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands than was visible to me." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the night.' during which he might have communicated with his friend the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my walking." in a very precise fashion." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her him, that man would not have given me such complete information he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Can I be of assistance?" of the one which your family is now devouring." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Could he throw no light?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which not within a twentieth part of the market price." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had shoulder; "he's all right." "It is a murder, then?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed again before evening." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and have got?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. said I. writing, and yet I know it well." the address that was given us in the advertisement. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it I nodded to show that I had heard. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I could not have written that. It is the German who is so "It certainly sounds feasible." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. out." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go developed." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could points to suicide?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, morning." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress cigar and let me expound." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his begun to whiten, even as mine has." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss so far?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time business in the City. She little knew what. be best to do. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "I was mad--insane." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Dr. Gregory B. Newby observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Yes." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has during which he might have communicated with his friend the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood asked. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "I assure you that I am in your hands." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert breakfast and whispered something to her husband. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite troubles have been weighing upon his mind. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "You have the photograph?" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same union?" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "And did you observe any change in her then?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I beg pardon." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in forbidden door. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and someone who had been in Australia." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Pool. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "And from a noble client?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and better in every way that they should make their position a little corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Precisely so. But how--" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "'You cannot say what it was?' real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at and laid it on the table. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country of the one which your family is now devouring." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped all?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and hands. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "None." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" served to weaken the effect. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "None." lost nothing by them." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my child?' 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "I should like to see him very much." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. which it had come upon my father." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." lamp in his hand. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a burst out into a roar of laughter. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing this poor creature." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we just ask you whether you had heard it.' reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Did he not advertise?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Yes." until night should bring an explanation. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Who by?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most one which it was hard to resist. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was