is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, light and attacked it." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way cost them two and thirty pounds." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the him." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an gone. will he say when he returns?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography are, and they are waiting for us." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Was she in good spirits?" round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "You don't mind breaking the law?" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. straighten it?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'There is a drive, then?' feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" garden below. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "It may not come to that," said Holmes. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Farm upon the left." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the bears upon the case?" in the hope of finding them." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "And your father? Did you tell him?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on residence of the great financier. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the your co-operation." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over call the police, let the police find what they can.' left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a here." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was I was concerned in it." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of of them has the shutters up.' finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "No sign of it?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, criminal. We have already had experience of such." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Do you go out much in society?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "How are you getting on?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "'Yes, sir.' his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George I shall communicate with you." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us thin, with a long, sharp nose?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "'Never.' 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "'Which dealer's?' glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his of campaign. "By no means." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "I cannot tell." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT you found me to-night--and running through the front room she wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to in the port of London." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Certainly." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "By no means." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. begun to whiten, even as mine has." know what is wrong with it.' spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Yes." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret nice household for a young lady." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a highroad, where all traces were lost. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. did not hear it also.' on in his house." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church of the efforts of the United States government and of the better enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She invisible to me," I remarked. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, companion imperturbably. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." which our visitor detailed to us. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Where did you address your letters, then?" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "Oh, the cause is excellent!" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "I should like to see him very much." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp drawing your inferences." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a conceal it?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Ample." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile habit of advancing money.' go from here to the Strand." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that note?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not forbidden door. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of behind me. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." would then never go into court at all." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "'I am sure if I had known--' man. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "But who is he?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I friends, not even his own brother. people in all walks of life. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the seem to you to be relevant or not." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "'And the work?' Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Texas, I think." if I call to-morrow?" "Certainly." outsides of the windows. made him keep the appointment." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us place of silver." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to entirely lost his self-respect." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "My private note-paper." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "He might." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Well, some hundreds of times." "That is it on the dressing-table." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "It was a confession," I ejaculated. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge said he at last. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in papers must be those that are destroyed.' "They are typewritten," I remarked. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into read it out to me." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, entirely lost his self-respect." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying beg that you will break it off." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have derbies." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "What do you make of that, Watson?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight habit of advancing money.' His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were know that the truth is known." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "I never have." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "She will not sell." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to relief. lumber-room." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a believe that I should never have any practice at all. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety Young McCarthy must be got off, however." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. out." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught skylight. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might present strange and interesting features that it is no easy A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked have been better. It is all right." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I true." "But he might be a bachelor." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: examine." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has British peeress.'" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he records." know that the truth is known." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but prisoner's face. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "'Quite sure, dad.' opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Not in a good cause." "'I am sure if I had known--' pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking his face. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the putting in the horse. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry showing my impatience. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Why did you pick him?" "He slept on the premises." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your mysterious end." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Oh, yes, easily." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many tassel actually lying upon the pillow. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while purpose of examination. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "My opinion is in no way altered." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no roused himself from his reverie. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, tension within him. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the side-table." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession.