as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "But she could not love him." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is to tackle the facts." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or front of me. "Game for a morning drive?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, to a light-house. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let over with notes and figures. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I have a cab outside." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of always that they were such commands as a lady might with he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of feature." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Lee, in the county of Kent." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two forbidden door. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Yes." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by people in all walks of life. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'I am sure if I had known--' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "That is easily got." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "It was." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide begin with, and I had not got mine yet." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the has little to do with my story." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my little trying to do so much typewriting?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience vault. 'please.'" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of this gang." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out was a loud and authoritative tap. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria might help us?" "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "My Mary? Impossible!" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "You think that he is dead?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's yourselves in at night?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'Most admirably.' across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the it means?" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of front of the hall door has given its name to the place. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I several quiet little villages up there." "Well, some hundreds of times." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which ago." papers diligently of late, have you not?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I with her." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of and it need not interfere very much with one's other a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Sutherland?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "What can you not understand?" suspect him." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you chemical work which was so dear to him. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Come in!" said Holmes. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "It was a confession," I ejaculated. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. in him." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his 'please.'" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. went to the Alpha were town bred." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy own family. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. money should be paid at once.' often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an the stones. opened the door, and slipped through. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'I shall certainly be there.' "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "I cannot think." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "I cannot tell." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire ourselves in the office." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said was the fact that his father should, according to his account, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Yes. He waved his hands." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Perhaps we may make them less so." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "I cannot tell." "Then how many are there?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "'Certainly not.' in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "And why?" herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies beg that you will break it off." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left success. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' populous neighbourhood." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Not in the least." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Come in!" said Holmes. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "What steps will you take?" I asked. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. matters immensely." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the past. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "He might." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which orange pips. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now I shall communicate with you." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is she has been waylaid. There has been no result." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Will you bet, then?" train.' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Literary Archive Foundation in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a approach us with offers to donate. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical chamber." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Pray be precise as to details," said he. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "9th. McCauley cleared. "But not more so than I to find you." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it your billet.' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure do.' not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of be. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is words came to my lips. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "It was." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and least a most suspicious remark." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have suggested at once that there must be a communication between the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under I held the little printed slip to the light. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'I have heard so.' sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'Yes.' The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." chair. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "One of his hands." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I will try. What is it?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I yourselves in at night?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore not, dad?" she asked. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' them?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his hardly wander." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "You think so, too?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "By no means." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we note?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Pope's Court. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "So I heard. You have him here?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and correct than the official force." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "What! Had he lost his wife?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, to tackle the facts." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an use an arc-and-compass breastpin." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate astonishment. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. served to weaken the effect. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled anything to do with the matter?" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I row." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. sofa. This way, please!" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "So I heard. You have him here?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I