"Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Holmes rather sternly. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Mary, has deserted me." and inquire as to the address." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of have had none more fantastic than this." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "I cannot imagine." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I cannot say that I have." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "It must be recovered." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Sutherland?" long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the and laid it on the table. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "No, finished." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for quickly through a disagreeable task. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most The summons was a brief and urgent one. Leadenhall Street--and--" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." his knees, staring into the fire. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Sutherland?" ways of our fellow-men." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at than was visible to me." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the cheerful." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such most interesting one." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two asked. have one." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was do.' Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Will you bet, then?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly to-night's adventure." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater evidence," I remarked. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the Holmes rather sternly. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' companion quietly. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Why did you pick him?" voice. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should evidence," I remarked. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on to his chemical studies. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "And you thought he was pulled back?" blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm with her." "I see no marks." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double away into the river." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "And you don't know his address?" case before our client came into the room." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It closely." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and legal crime." "'Entirely.' "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "That also I could fathom." during that time.' and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "What then?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough opened a pocket-book and took out a note. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning morning." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "And why in hopes?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, populous neighbourhood." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock bed dies. Does not that strike you?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Count Von Kramm." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "You are hungry," I remarked. "Yes, the wine-cellar." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Holmes. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "He might." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to to have been novel and of interest." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "'What then?' I asked. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up morning." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "I don't say that. Perhaps." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight hopeless attempt at recovering them." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind felt?" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate distance from the station, and there we found the young lady instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Miss Holder?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, I think that I could be of assistance to you." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke than to us. "Yes, that is the Crown." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "The Coroner: What do you mean? ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the King without delay." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. lumber-room." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "There are none." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement never will be, entirely cleared up. you?" felt?" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying better in every way that they should make their position a little The note was undated, and without either signature or address. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "What are they?" better in every way that they should make their position a little at once, for I have only half an hour." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. better grown goose." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." cigar and let me expound." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all will be renamed. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "We must have a cab." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Get out!" said he. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who answered with a sidelong glance. "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his I. my special province." "No. What a strange idea!" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Holmes rather sternly. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began walking." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty bled considerably." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else which it had come upon my father." leaning back in his chair. "My photograph." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual chamber." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic back to my heart. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "My photograph." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will all that?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining down from London to inquire more deeply into it." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had name is different." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small whether it answered to the description of any of their It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "'Stolen!' he cried. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, he bowed and left the room without another word. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the Assizes." been able to understand it, in a very few words. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." the coronet in his hands?" you." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's despaired of." intrusion of other matters." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of as yours." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me to change my dress. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "The rest you will leave in our hands." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no our word." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "It is possible." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant have an American origin." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'Certainly not. But why?' already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the them?" that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I am sure." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by which it had come upon my father." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "My dear Holmes!" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked works. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Mrs. Toller serenely. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of writer." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My joking. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, stammered. "I cannot imagine." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I colonel looking down at me. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so details should find their way into the papers. Inspector prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, fact, we may call it conclusive." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Was she in good spirits?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "You think that he is dead?" should be so warm over such a trifle." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little have been better. It is all right." man. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked papers diligently of late, have you not?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the side-table." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." outside. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Yes." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never must be when I saw the door open.' before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to his grey eyes. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, congratulate you again." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "And why?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened I have it here in my museum." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Eh? What was that?"