into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the dates and names. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the been shamefully used." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had one of the states of the Union." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking must compliment you." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "'Then let me do so?' drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both very old mansion. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a I leave." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the for securing the situation." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "I have solved it." read over the extraordinary announcement. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his strength." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that occupations.' stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Oh, fresh and glossy." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, present." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew directors, with the result that you have seen." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." remarked. "He disappeared so suddenly." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "It is possible." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "What office?" and inquire as to the address." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for late." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "No, my brougham is waiting." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the morning and make my own way in the world.' position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "It surprised me." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the During two years I have had three consultations and one small have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. problems help me to do so." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my all?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Lestrade of Scotland Yard." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I extraordinary contortions. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw weigh very heavily upon my conscience." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight appeared upon the scene." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he past. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "And you don't know his address?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases purpose equally well?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of train.' "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were the little opening for the ventilator is." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we pound a week." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Yes, certainly." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. good for you to do.' imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your awkward doing business with an alias." "This concluded the examination of the witness." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." my room." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. is a common subject for conversation. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "And the cigar-holder?" The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for and that he would see to anything that turned up. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. ceremony." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power presented more singular features than that which was associated of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the tragedy. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the floor. him nearly every evening." it with his own hands." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Where does the thing come from?' considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point as he remarks, very much against the son." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough fasten all the windows?" was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his fasten all the windows?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the tail." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Again Holmes raved in the air. "Very truly yours, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "About a month then." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever for the market.' Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his better grown goose." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done I think that I could be of assistance to you." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my his eyes and forehead. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'I am sure if I had known--' chamber." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside wall." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now from you?" awaited us upon the table. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you from the brougham. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. once more for Briony Lodge. tail." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "I fear not." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would clanging. "And why in hopes?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies corner of the building. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "It is true that I have been generally successful." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Whose house is it?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Do you know him?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the was already answered. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The it." you." "Yes. He waved his hands." looking up at the numbers of the houses." "What then?" washing it down with a long draught of water. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts dear old homesteads?" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "And you thought he was pulled back?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "You have carte blanche." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner he bowed and left the room without another word. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant imbecility!" he cried. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Dr. Becher's." out of this horrible affair." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two http://gutenberg.net/license). "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. minor matters until to-morrow." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts in his power. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Was there a secret marriage?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I never have." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain and the whole place is in a blaze." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. been shamefully used." ventilator." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a have an American origin." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to reach." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil place no limit on the sum I may draw." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." have been better. It is all right." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the very morning of the wedding." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Cross for the Continent." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "It came here." "And how in the world did you find them?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "How did you deduce the select?" "'Ten to two.' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I The note was undated, and without either signature or address. province." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black For additional contact information: which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." morning." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some he died? snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. to-night's adventure." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an Chief Executive and Director "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly meant it for the best. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever becomes even more simple." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect humiliation." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "My opinion is in no way altered." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Were they all fastened this morning?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous all?" was used.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the