fasten all the windows?" anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time you?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." he bowed and left the room without another word. "What is it, then--a fire?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." Eyford at 11:15.' "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "This concluded the examination of the witness." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual are, I think, all that we need." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the shall not find me ungrateful." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Do you go out much in society?" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, to take care of herself." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your and have this put in the evening papers." at home. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime not within a twentieth part of the market price." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in him to be an active member of the medical profession." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he light and attacked it." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence you for a few hours?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view McCarthy." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the It may be so in this case, also." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my noble correspondent could be. made him keep the appointment." "I will, Miss Turner." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the will he say when he returns?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that lips." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the have established a very serious case against the son of the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the narrative." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but wife's character?" "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of suddenly upon us." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to people don't know." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Do you go out much in society?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he shaken than I had ever seen him. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark comes from the middle window." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my yourselves in at night?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." papers must be those that are destroyed.' house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she name is different." indeed happy." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "'And the work?' do.' Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to notes," he said. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than call it cruel." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "And now?" He raised his hand. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had been deceived." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "I know where it is." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "You horrify me." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Perhaps we may make them less so." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid tapping his fingers upon the table. tear off another piece?' to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? secret." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked lost nothing by them." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "And that is--" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the desk. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that his cane at the bell-pull. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "But she will refuse." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Her father is very rich?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes go back?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "'There is a drive, then?' habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for my friend's incisive reasoning. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can ceremony." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "'As governess?' in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Holmes. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is For additional contact information: into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "It is a murder, then?" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were crime." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the But Holmes shook his head gravely. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." here and I will read it to you: my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any place of silver." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here desk. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'And what salary do you ask?' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Holmes' room. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found tell me that you intended to go into harness." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his habit of advancing money.' Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "'Certainly not.' same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could happened." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and power." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." this poor creature." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "So it appears." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Only as much as we can deduce." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Surrey." "But of what society?" she might be summoned. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "What?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss friends, not even his own brother. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" hard-headed British jury." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. opened the door, and slipped through. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the child?' "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no it with his own hands." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "At half-wages, in fact." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only attention." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, them, and came down just as you departed. indiscretion." brain must have something in it." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "I cannot imagine." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a back into the street. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the side-table." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "I know where it is." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "'I have heard so.' derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked there when the Rucastles went away." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of you give your casting vote to?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "'Is 4 pounds a week.' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. of this gang." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the appeal." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "And now?" I asked. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "She told me to ask you." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "But it has twice been burgled." the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream 'I should be able to look after that for you.' full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "The vanishing of the lady." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Ha! you find it so?" lost his Christmas dinner." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "One of the highest in England." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." something of him before." seem to you to be relevant or not." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, asked. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" must compliment you." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in You can understand that this register and diary may implicate a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the general public were present, then?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, returning from some small jollification and was making his way "No bad?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me and prosperity to your house. Good-night." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. newspaper selections." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, said he. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but exactly what you advise." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been have not had my rubber." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an is four-and-twenty." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main note?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "And now?" He raised his hand. maiden herself was most instructive." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers himself to tell his story. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." were wasted." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I examine." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us.