little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "But how?" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed events than those which have happened in my own family." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "How did you trace it, then?" dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, it. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone gone before you can get him to hospital." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them sit on the left-hand side of the driver." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large letters?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and hard-headed British jury." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "How are you getting on?" the coroner come to?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "And the cigar-holder?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We will take you up to see the machine.' It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of breakfast." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Holmes." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "It came here." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Countess of Morcar's?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and disappearance of the bride.'" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and the ceiling. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Entirely." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in asked. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some out." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the station." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her long narrative. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as them present such singular features as the strange train of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all followed. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is throat." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "From his hat?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing Countess of Morcar's?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to out of this horrible affair." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike voice, changing her seat as requested. "'Stolen!' he cried. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the loss of it. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door is acting for the best. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you respectable self." "And how in the world did you find them?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some very morning of my second wedding." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the that?' time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "The Cedars?" "Look there!" said he. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "To ruin me." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I brought there to personate someone, and the real person is been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me in a friendly supper." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "VIOLET HUNTER." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. and I shall be with you presently." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." him, that man would not have given me such complete information street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in soul! here is her carriage at the door." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Game for a morning drive?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" such person." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Edgeware Road. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "But you were on a friendly footing?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Yes." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned narrative." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the points to suicide?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated at home. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his waste of energy." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to and put his glass in his pocket. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "And how?" though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Never." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very with the outside air!" villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "And what then?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was reach." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most What do you deduce from it?" had a long day." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was chill to my heart. never to learn it at all." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the gives a meaning to it." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "That sounds a little paradoxical." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "We have tried and failed." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." too. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "That was it, sir." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "And your father? Did you tell him?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Pray do so." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She with you alone." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was fact, we may call it conclusive." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Will you bet, then?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination cigar and let me expound." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "'Certainly not.' "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, second." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the loss of it. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I don't say that. Perhaps." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling voice, changing her seat as requested. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." tied." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for handed it to him. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the remarked. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Get out!" said he. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in own family. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the followed. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads to some other building. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Arthur Conan Doyle "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "We have tried and failed." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "What?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This thought that she would have been so carried away." of the one which your family is now devouring." "My stepfather's business papers." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. with you alone." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "The best possible." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the was keenly on my guard against him. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found is a common subject for conversation. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that have I gained?" chance." train.' "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, to take care of herself." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how morning." appointment with me for six o'clock?" "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire never will be, entirely cleared up. I was concerned in it." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a excitement. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Yes, sir." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working should be so warm over such a trifle." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the me." were new raised from a basin. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall other lovers by making love himself." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Pool. his face which made him a very different person to the round, III. "But the mystery?" my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. will not take me long to tell. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that said he. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical was feeling which was the fattest.' present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the official police." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "And you thought he was pulled back?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." yet." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, drove away. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was so far?" "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "It is possible." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a to-morrow." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Awake, Watson?" he asked. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a head. So long, then!" leave you to your papers for a little." the one as in the other." minor matters until to-morrow." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem one else, I think." we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "So I am. Very much so." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "I have hopes." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast chill to my heart. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Bought." enter Dr. Roylott's room." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately your bag." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his 11:15.' jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my a room. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I upon an income of about 60 pounds." reach." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "'What are you doing there?' he asked. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond is a common subject for conversation. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "I cannot think." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "About a month then." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but that I may have something better before very many minutes are interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was neither fascinating nor artistic." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and