she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on than to us. as he remarks, very much against the son." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after already referred to. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in his cane at the bell-pull. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid second window is the one that I jumped from." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "That you are never beaten." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "No, thank goodness, she did not." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until your only hope of safety." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and the whole place is in a blaze." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "By train from Waterloo." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one Clair, of Lee." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew you came in." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." 1.E.9. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Has he come with you to-night?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I bell. Holmes whistled. that I can to serve you." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he breakfast." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, hurried away. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how read over the extraordinary announcement. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in society." "Imitated." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "It looks newer than the other things?" We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, evidence," I remarked. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Yes, I have one waiting." Literary Archive Foundation "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. of it with the greatest attention. his knees, staring into the fire. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. young Openshaw's." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "One of the highest in England." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we nothing with him." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most my friend's incisive reasoning. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "But I am all in the dark." of Fenchurch Street." will not take me long to tell. Henry Baker is a member." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "No bad?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. know that the truth is known." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six such person." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was The events in question occurred in the early days of my laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight had this final quarrel? cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Surrey." despaired of." "'I have already given you my word.' jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'About the same.' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said security.' "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Yes, it would be as well." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." me have 200 pounds?' narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most children over to America with him, so that I found myself without SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "How long did she speak to this Alice?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our disappearance of these gems?" dramatic, in fact." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "I fear not." said I. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This bonnet, and went out." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "You know me, then?" one of the states of the Union." the station." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a hopeless attempt at recovering them." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two goes." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "You know me, then?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Farm upon the left." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "What!" he roared. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Get out!" said he. "What do you mean?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, that he will be back before evening." kindly on the shoulder. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He rat could hardly pass through." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, careless servant girl?" chill to my heart. "Yes." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached or other trace. But how on earth--" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "I have come for advice." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot name is different." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his both be extremely obliged.' point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when night.' said he. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the murdered man." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "'Very good.' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that looking up at the numbers of the houses." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of see a sister of mine apply for." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "And you thought he was pulled back?" reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is bachelor.' "And what did you learn from him?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre What do you deduce from it?" open." "What will you do, then?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the such attractions and accomplishments?' glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door searched, without anything being found which could incriminate even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the best detective that ever lived. upon the sideboard." "And now?" I asked. said I. bell. Holmes whistled. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders heavily into it. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "I will get her to show me." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "'Never,' said I. Farm upon the left." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could so far?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy him, that man would not have given me such complete information He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I will not look." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 had died away into the silence from which it rose. once more for Briony Lodge. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the that you wished to speak to me?' silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "In the cells." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any read it out to me." for and were ordered to this address. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "But who is he?" to-morrow." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and been shamefully used." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us tapping his fingers upon the table. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." be there in time for your coming." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of for and were ordered to this address. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." whatever might befall. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the King without delay." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." as this. Pray let me have the details." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Well, but China?" reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes never will be, entirely cleared up. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was on in his house." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." fear." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the peculiar to him. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at bird of prey. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a there was no need for father to know." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." companion. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may relief. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them conceal it?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man other, as fresh and trim as possible. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought bill, which interests me deeply." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds This is what he says: key turn in the lock." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "We must have a cab." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the residence of the great financier. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, I think that I could be of assistance to you." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not