me have 200 pounds?' prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "I should be immensely obliged to you." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle back alive. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Holmes, the busybody!" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Indeed! Whose, then?" months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Why did you beat the pavement?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Perhaps we may make them less so." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a neither fascinating nor artistic." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist detective. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that do.' made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "To ruin me." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to hopeless attempt at recovering them." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the is now desirous of getting those letters back." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the she used." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I shall not find me ungrateful." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "You have carte blanche." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable get the tickets." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared crackling voice. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project hardly wander." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my that you saw all that I did." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "But not more so than I to find you." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "What then?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Ah!" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the most interesting one." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Married! When?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been tear off another piece?' me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and a good hundred miles off by now." even so self-evident a thing as that." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the inquest, and which are worth considering." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have not as remarkable as your advertisement." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "We have tried and failed." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Certainly." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." breakfast." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "What! You do not mean bodies?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell other, as fresh and trim as possible. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. nights." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "A greater distance to travel." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Who by?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "How can you tell that?" "There are none." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil through." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an ways of our fellow-men." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been himself to hunt down. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle populous neighbourhood." "Yes, sir." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Then, how do you know?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the side. case before our client came into the room." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to said he. Eyford." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "I assure you that I am in your hands." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies do.' "Never." "Quite so." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring rose-bushes. help us in this matter." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in tail." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in help us in this matter." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers fishes. "We were both in the photograph." business." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "So I have heard." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "And how did you verify them?" will take you up to see the machine.' useful material for showing traces. The double line a little call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "'Yes, sir.' seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it criminal. We have already had experience of such." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home sneer upon his pale face. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall advice." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it highroad, where all traces were lost. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. presume?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Yes, sir." "Come in!" said Holmes. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my and glanced through. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Then the page we have seen--" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to morning." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He charged with?" more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "One horse?" interjected Holmes. crime. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my business in the City. She little knew what. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously key of the affair now." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your upon the white wrist. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Miss Holder?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to you." friend's singular character. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'A dozen yards or so.' dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The dramatic, in fact." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "So it appears." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the noise which awoke you from your sleep?" and laid it on the table. "That is possible." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself heavy and sharp instrument." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Have you it here?" brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you have an American origin." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Yes, but only for you and me." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Eh? What was that?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open McCarthy." intrusion of other matters." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to photograph a cabinet?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would more terrible than the truth. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Yes." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Who was the criminal, then?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector records." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Did your wife hear all this?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid this unhappy family?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "So it appears." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this trying to your nerves." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "And what then?" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'Never,' said I. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "You'll never persuade me to believe that." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is views." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, where we are going." just ask you whether you had heard it.' impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Game for a morning drive?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in to change my dress. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she directly by questioning you." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Upon what point?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "I am still in the dark." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital status with the IRS. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them place no limit on the sum I may draw." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "What will you say?" on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant to Leatherhead. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very distinguish the words: blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "I cannot imagine." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical papers must be those that are destroyed.' "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was of the one which your family is now devouring." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has