borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "'Yes, it was gone.' I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "How did you trace it, then?" developed." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "You have the photograph?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Not in a good cause." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, awaited us upon the table. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "And I say east," said my patient. "And how did he make his money?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices one of the states of the Union." hour." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a as he remarks, very much against the son." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his unclasping of his long thin hands. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, opened the door, and slipped through. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would use an arc-and-compass breastpin." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "But the mystery?" "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over of Mr. Rucastle's." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where chemical work which was so dear to him. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the station." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than indiscretion." ceremony." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I amused." "Certainly." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. murdered man." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always morning." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must to tell." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I was feeling which was the fattest.' heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the confronted him. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so particular state visit http://pglaf.org astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will way: License. You must require such a user to return or quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which But Holmes shook his head gravely. will take you up to see the machine.' assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the breakfast." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "It must be recovered." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce foot. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the straighten it?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know of the vacancies.' question," said Holmes, smiling. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is some terrible trap for her." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of upon a handsome competence. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Where did you address your letters, then?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a do.' very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the again on its way. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "She walked into the breakfast-room." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "The gentleman I describe." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Has he come with you to-night?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very unprecedented a position." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a here and I will read it to you: my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the stable lane now." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a outbreak?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards about. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to The King stared at him in amazement. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "You think so, too?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt you give your casting vote to?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you happened." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable guilty one." nights." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Nothing." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day article?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for derbies." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like green of the new foliage. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "9th. McCauley cleared. it. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just and shall probably return to London by the evening train." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little drawing your inferences." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Your French gold?" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "You horrify me!" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "His face fell immediately. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "I think it very unlikely." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is light and attacked it." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I cannot tell." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. experiences." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." appeal." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Breckinridge is his name." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." off." him!" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "How are you getting on?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but mysterious end." "Yes, all." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes arrangements." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a comes from the middle window." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Serpentine Avenue. call you and give you the chance." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I even of instruction." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the sake, don't!" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the appeal." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have I approached. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. of your young ladies.' voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "What steps will you take?" I asked. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'You doubt its value?' he asked. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "From his hat?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered of a light. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do passage and a tap at the door. brandy and water within his reach. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it drawing your inferences." "Nothing?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Then I do not see the point." "I am still in the dark." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." strong reason behind." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could name is different." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "It may not come to that," said Holmes. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Yes, the wine-cellar." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock arrested. You then--" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows was used.' "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "It is possible." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital whatever might befall. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "And who is her maid?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did through." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Yes." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It maiden herself was most instructive." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. child?' prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" you for a few hours?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge with you?" "No sign of it?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "And you don't know his address?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Yes, it would be as well." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own of it with the greatest attention. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared meanly of me." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely dear old homesteads?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "I will, Miss Turner." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "What, then, did Peterson do?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, reach." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then business." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to call you and give you the chance." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "No good news?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up photograph?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "And why?" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which south, for the country is more deserted there." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "It goes to the housekeeper's room." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Pool. hair?' orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, I. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "What can you not understand?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in new duties?' and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon these bleak autumnal evenings." sofa. This way, please!" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From appointment with me for six o'clock?" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the of Fenchurch Street." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Does that suggest anything?" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the nonsense.' him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "She told me to ask you." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution