meant." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'What then?' I asked. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Which surely he restored to their owner?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." throat." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the away to you." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. occupations.' of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined late." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if over with notes and figures. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic have I gained?" servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds dead, shall be safe with us." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Yes, but only for you and me." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "What?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest observed. "Witness: It was. carpenter." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Holmes, the busybody!" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not which should have the effect of calling the attention of the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat It was close upon four before the door opened, and a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, DAMAGE. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation back to my heart. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "An accident, I presume?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "But to whom?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "And sit in the dark?" "It was an hour's good drive." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "No more words. Get out!" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as may never be exposed to such a temptation." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room dear old homesteads?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of client, rising. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Did your wife hear all this?" knowledge of the world." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Your French gold?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "What are they?" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white detective. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and been deceived." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "So I have heard." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "It is solved." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "And how?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line these bleak autumnal evenings." astonishment. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, companion. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies you." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "You think so, too?" presented more singular features than that which was associated to-night's adventure." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "'Yes.' caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Where did he live, then?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "It's nothing of the kind." sneer upon his pale face. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think unkempt, staring out at me. wife's character?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long neither fascinating nor artistic." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Miss Holder?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head said Mr. Holder. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all hour?' had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution at home. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "And it is--" like that before?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Yes, that is the Crown." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had gbnewby@pglaf.org extraordinary contortions. States. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated in his power. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which them?" ordinary clothes on?" present." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through himself in a perplexing position. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "But how did you gain them?" were new raised from a basin. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the business." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do cup of tea. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up went to the Alpha were town bred." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. views." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Entirely." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre awaited us upon the table. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow public press." seen the man in the road." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "By train from Waterloo." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "And why?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to distance from the station, and there we found the young lady deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "So I have heard." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Can I be of assistance?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be nonsense.' ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, correct than the official force." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every sake, don't!" With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Very truly yours, the coronet at all injured?" astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed digesting their breakfasts at home." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Then I do not see the point." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "I don't say that. Perhaps." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her I took the paper from him and read as follows: years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich following enigmatical notices: "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. bill, which interests me deeply." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the bottom.' is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." investigation." had a long day." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we sound at heart." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing when your master had gone out." "Witness: It was. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and advice." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far such person." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been way: was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into green of the new foliage. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole chambers. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think chamber." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there chill to my heart. Sutherland. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single once more for Briony Lodge. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two look dissatisfied." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Yes." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "The doctor?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps views." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes tell him that I know him to be innocent." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Gutenberg-tm License. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the highroad, where all traces were lost. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they coroner's jury." "Then, as to money?" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "What shall I do?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the awaited us upon the table. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was the driver. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the yourselves in at night?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it have one." the inner apartment." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Where did he live, then?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the breakfast?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. eat it." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles papers must be those that are destroyed.' Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "And you don't know his address?" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Young McCarthy must be got off, however." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "'Ample.' it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's views." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Yes." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." hereditary King of Bohemia." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled best detective that ever lived. constraint." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his strode off upon his way. round and wave him away like that.' year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "It is to him that this trophy belongs."