one else, I think." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "But how did you gain them?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, until night should bring an explanation. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for to-morrow." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily of your young ladies.' few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in charge against him will break down." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them eavesdroppers?' had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the appeared upon the scene." matter." points to suicide?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were of Mr. Rucastle's." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that on in his house." "I have my revolver," said I. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, it." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "That is it on the dressing-table." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be I. "'And the work?' focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable help us in this matter." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'Oh, no.' triumphant cloud from his cigarette. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the stalked out of the room. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look a little more before I quite committed myself. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Then I do not see the point." when you have done it." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where made him keep the appointment." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, public press." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it photograph a cabinet?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." confronted him. to me. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "What is it, then--a fire?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was instituted." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "And for present expenses?" to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, it." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where other, as fresh and trim as possible. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "And the cigar-holder?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for conclusions. should be so warm over such a trifle." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am works. been able to understand it, in a very few words. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "No legal papers or certificates?" town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon we went to search for him, face downward in a little "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "No, I had a dozen." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Yes, it would be as well." back into the street. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how wedding?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching just called myself is not exactly my own." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Did you observe the colour?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the it right.' "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp presented which may be striking and bizarre without being to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the jewels which you have stolen?' confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "VIOLET HUNTER." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the friends, not even his own brother. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a way: a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father be.' one of the states of the Union." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this page at http://pglaf.org to-night's adventure." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to chance." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Lestrade of Scotland Yard." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "'I have heard so.' insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the it. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "She will not sell." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my meant it for the best. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "I shall most certainly do so." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking other, as fresh and trim as possible. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could man. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' character. something of him before." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Never." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "What then?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw During two years I have had three consultations and one small "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here easy-going way." new duties?' precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought companion. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might little trying to do so much typewriting?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any followed. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who said he at last. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Gutenberg-tm License. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent stood on the top of it. hair?' suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his outside." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Well, some hundreds of times." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "The best possible." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever mystery." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "And I." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me whole matter to your consideration." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" head. So long, then!" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had about here speaks of his kindness to him." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and becomes even more simple." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, yards of it?' that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Yes." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "It was a confession," I ejaculated. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "I have solved it." some water from a caraffe. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon situation." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'A dozen yards or so.' Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Tired-looking or fresh?" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "'I have heard so.' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "And I say east," said my patient. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have but preventing her from injuring another. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the morning and make my own way in the world.' "'About the same.' the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Well." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his to affect your life." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Certainly." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured became a certainty. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "'In my own bureau.' "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself were unconscious?" smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make ready to-morrow?' the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Your French gold?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall 11:15.' for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not presented more singular features than that which was associated His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke reach." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "I see no marks." "Stolen, then." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring woven round him. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with disturbance in my wife." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom there were one or two details which were new to me. But the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "What can you not understand?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the that there was nothing in it, after all." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be posted to-day." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few his grey eyes. "And who is her maid?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the least a most suspicious remark." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in was a lad." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is behind me. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under compunction about shooting them down." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like weighed down with some great anxiety. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "9th. McCauley cleared. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Precisely." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the iron safe, which he closed upon it. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police it right.' "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint morning." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything nights." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I