say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had which are rolled in Rotterdam." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed unkempt, staring out at me. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked of the one which your family is now devouring." society." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." papers must be those that are destroyed.' broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and returning from some small jollification and was making his way knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "So it appears." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the electronic works "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very that you wished to speak to me?' surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Well?" of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "May I see it?" had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this of." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose kind enough to tell me what I should do." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different outbreak?" particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "I do." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' call it cruel." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Proceed, then." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in keep the flames under. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in shall not find me ungrateful." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "'What do you call purely nominal?' beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am to Leatherhead. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, the inquest, and which are worth considering." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the question," said Holmes, smiling. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." any little problem which you may submit to me." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed together. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "It is possible." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Ten will be early enough." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "It missed him, then?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, pound a week." quick march!" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "No, my brougham is waiting." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Dark enough and sinister enough." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "What will you say?" "He slept on the premises." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes." have not had my rubber." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have had this final quarrel? orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "From his hat?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had had this final quarrel? vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of which we had just quitted. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "It is no ordinary one." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt his fortune, and I went back to pa. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in was once confined in the cab my mission was practically conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. goes." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before drawing your inferences." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Then I am your man." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made papers must be those that are destroyed.' him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of that threaten you." Have you good authority for what you say?" As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I never have." away into the river." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Yes." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Yes, from Horsham." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I pound a week." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. bare slabs of marble. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their morning." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Indeed! Whose, then?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Henry Baker is a member." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, you?' Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little if she died from some sudden fright." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." prisoner's face. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What in the dead of the night?' creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in way in everything. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then character. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the happened." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the go from here to the Strand." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he business." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a prepare for the new role I have to play." noting anything else of interest. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "'Never,' said I. beyond words. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but may never be exposed to such a temptation." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a as the one I chose?' the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you seem to you to be relevant or not." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he gbnewby@pglaf.org with you?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Nothing?" donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate of Mr. Rucastle's." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed said I. enter Dr. Roylott's room." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, delighted to hear it," he said. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to be.' retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with ventilator." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he again before evening." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable depend upon your compliance." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A James Windibank. Voilà tout!" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a one of the states of the Union." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, been with you?" "I should like to see him very much." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and which was all perfectly true. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "No, finished." "No more words. Get out!" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight read over the extraordinary announcement. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to IS "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" your bag." "That is unusual in a young girl." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled happened." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. tied." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "I will not look." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my upon an income of about 60 pounds." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, had this final quarrel? matters immensely." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, wedding?" himself to hunt down. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That Edgeware Road. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a down. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not walking." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached a monotonous occupation." joking. disappearance of the bride.'" "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She drove away. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Why? What do you mean?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat may never be exposed to such a temptation." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at this man was intellectual?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. and all of them with the keenest interest. I shall communicate with you." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "But how could you guess what the motive was?" of the vacancies.' you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some records." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we from the brougham. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who awkward doing business with an alias." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "And I say east," said my patient. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is address. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "None." existence." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, which are rolled in Rotterdam." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." directly by questioning you." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time nothing with him." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always is four-and-twenty." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, late." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Have you good authority for what you say?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Eyford at 11:15.' "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "No, I am descending." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the matter." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "To an English lawyer named Norton." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with following enigmatical notices: point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself salesman. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a companion. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced