suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime as the one I chose?' introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "On your arm?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "What do you make of that, Watson?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. said I. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would stepfather?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes there has been an enclosure here!" strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some wall." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over certainly do as you advise." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is third from London." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "I was certainly surprised to find you there." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and particular state visit http://pglaf.org upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she arrangements." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of good-night and bustled off upon her way. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Have you good authority for what you say?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and business." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the fashion which was peculiar to him. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "When did she vanish, then?" something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I will get her to show me." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl for securing the situation." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what in. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Then what has happened to him?" weapon." Have you good authority for what you say?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert humiliation." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "No, I think that I'll take it." meant it for the best. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a For additional contact information: "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "My last client of the sort was a king." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "An accident, I presume?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more the coronet at all injured?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "That is also quite modern," said the lady. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we had this final quarrel? his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be see me here to avoid scandal." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "I say that I have solved it." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Never to return." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in foot. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose purpose equally well?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent is," said he presently: Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how call you and give you the chance." "I shall be delighted." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Will you bet, then?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Where does the thing come from?' the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Witness: It was. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a ceremony." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "'You cannot say what it was?' red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Just look it up, then." and your relations to her." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the but preventing her from injuring another. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Street. maiden herself was most instructive." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Eyford at 11:15.' examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to little adventures." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the again." "Yes?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Really! You surprise me." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an know what is wrong with it.' "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Why did you beat the pavement?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Oh, the cause is excellent!" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. memory. never came back." "Have you it here?" the south-west, I see." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't mysterious end." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. might help us?" "Nothing." assist you in forming an opinion." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney was already answered. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable late!' speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously certainly not very gracious." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. we went to search for him, face downward in a little that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project said I. strength." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. conclusions. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Then what has happened to him?" "No, but the enclosure is." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished soul! here is her carriage at the door." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he For additional contact information: Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the vanished into the darkness. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover ways of our fellow-men." side. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the felt?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "And from a noble client?" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of London for the present?" perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Have you her photograph?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I cannot tell." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New your co-operation." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Ha! you find it so?" didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "What I expected to see." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'In my own bureau.' When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that waste of energy." I leave." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of wedding?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "'Yes, I promise.' thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Pool. "I guessed as much." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of call for it in person on Monday morning.' "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step said he at last. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." yourselves in at night?" Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is instituted." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair in his hands." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how to take care of herself." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that touch that coronet?' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." I nodded to show that I had heard. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the general public were present, then?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was writing, and yet I know it well." until night should bring an explanation. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." that I can to serve you." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the companion. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Nothing?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have confronted him. whatever might befall. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." true." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "The gentleman I describe." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most quick march!" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the generous with you in money matters.' My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Did you observe the colour?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own said I. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that lectures into a series of tales." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "'Yes, sir.' shaken than I had ever seen him. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and politicians who had been sent down from the North. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Yes, from Horsham." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" go back?" green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an tell him that I know him to be innocent." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Yes." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Of what?" chambers. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in look upon these things in a different way." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Then how many are there?" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "10th. John Swain cleared. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was started for the Temple to see my husband. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by sit on the left-hand side of the driver." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes electronic works stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Was the window open?" "Yes." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to gone. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the in this note: coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, chambers. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before cost them two and thirty pounds." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is is," said he presently: had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which grasp, he hurried from the room. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right most important business. It is probable that he will be away all