"I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." business." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in in the dead of the night?' street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "'Yes, sir.' I am not easy in my mind about them." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special papers diligently of late, have you not?" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Has he come with you to-night?" to arrive at through this?" answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel suggested at once that there must be a communication between the were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "How did you trace it, then?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the could go. "It was." see a sister of mine apply for." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "You are hungry," I remarked. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Then I shall certainly come." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was swore that no one else had been in the front room during the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "I guessed as much." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did man. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the situation." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out Doctor, of the paper and the date." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to back into the street. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there was feeling which was the fattest.' "Very. But will he see it?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "From his hat?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too think, you have already met." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose presume?" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, was feeling which was the fattest.' emerged. ways of our fellow-men." "She told me to ask you." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "That is easily got." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be opened a pocket-book and took out a note. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was highly," said Holmes. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then I approached. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Where is it, then?" Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Very truly yours, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to meant." bedroom door." "'Certainly not. But why?' not fit the lock." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran better in every way that they should make their position a little precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "My photograph." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Did you observe the colour?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Texas, I think." "'How far from the body?' terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "And why in hopes?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of fatally injured? in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Then you may entirely rely on me." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear guilty one." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "You think so, too?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Precisely." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "And how did you find out?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." whereabouts. already been minutely examined." "I will get her to show me." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right to a more successful conclusion." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three him to be an active member of the medical profession." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never nothing of it?" "Nothing." chemical work which was so dear to him. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. events, Mr. Windibank!" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "'Ample.' which are rolled in Rotterdam." Arthur Conan Doyle grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, knowledge of the world." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and be best to do. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Ample." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments developed." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "But how could you guess what the motive was?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. take the flies, but not before." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the enough to aid us in our search." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "But I am all in the dark." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Then the page we have seen--" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Won't it ring?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open towards the blaze. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you Watson," he said cordially. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some have accepted such a situation. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for tapping his fingers upon the table. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "That is easily got." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I am to be neutral?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet do you make of it all?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back conduct the inquiry." own family. of campaign. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. instincts rose up against that laugh. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your returned to France?" union?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Stoke Moran." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Which surely he restored to their owner?" absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. fasten all the windows?" remarked. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near your most interesting statement." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Dr. Becher's." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his with some details as to your case." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Yes." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the his wife has ceased to love him." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Where, indeed?" 11:15.' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have face and glided from the room. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' official police." "I answered that I had not. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "A call for help, you thought?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Married! When?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Then, as to money?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in writing, and yet I know it well." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock skylight. "I would give my fortune to have them back." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "9th. McCauley cleared. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "What is it, then--a fire?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Then the page we have seen--" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. most interesting one." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his of the efforts of the United States government and of the better his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made shoulder; "he's all right." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his works. See paragraph 1.E below. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the went to the Alpha were town bred." "Yes, it would be as well." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a to take care of herself." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said there." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for to a more successful conclusion." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "How on earth--" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do excitement. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Yes?" villagers almost as much as their master. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, which our visitor detailed to us. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. call it cruel." "It missed him, then?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the you do it in twenty minutes!' is acting for the best. six. Come in!" "No, but the enclosure is." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "The gentleman I describe." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind notes," he said. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call be there in time for your coming." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few I held the little printed slip to the light. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "And your mother is alive?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind good for you to do.' "Your sister is dead, then?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her open." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always companion. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as It was close upon four before the door opened, and a of them has the shutters up.' returned to France?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of villagers almost as much as their master. me have 200 pounds?' where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, pierced for earrings?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare