"Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "We have tried and failed." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it in a friendly supper." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. to a light-house. "It is possible." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, bell. Holmes whistled. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by you give your casting vote to?" hereditary King of Bohemia." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a cigars in their mouths. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "And on what day did he meet his death?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Nothing." arrangements." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the coronet in his hands?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. there was no need for father to know." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and forebodings. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper asked. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your whereabouts. "I am following you closely," I answered. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was them?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife cause to be." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men friend's singular character. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must despair." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the salesman. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the very letters. But what is this written above them?' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country were unconscious?" "And how did you find out?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's disappearance of these gems?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. putting in the horse. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Never." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting stepfather?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, lectures into a series of tales." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of where Mr. Fordham shows you.' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend your equipment. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "It is possible." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Pray do so." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know himself. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." his face which made him a very different person to the round, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and but preventing her from injuring another. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, how narrow had been my escape. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary and the colonel ushered me in. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "ARAT," I read. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly heavy and sharp instrument." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "But his left-handedness." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." meant it for the best. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Then how many are there?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "By all means." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." in the dead of the night?' street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance he bowed and left the room without another word. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Then how many are there?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the roots. served to weaken the effect. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "And you thought he was pulled back?" handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "How did that help you?" "My photograph." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but Again Holmes raved in the air. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent lamp. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith means taking possession of that which another person has a prior tell them apart.' awaited us upon the table. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "We must have a cab." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business disappearance of these gems?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "What! a murderous attack?" "No." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR call it cruel." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her character. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "You have it, sir, just as it happened." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "But he might be a bachelor." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what all?" with some details as to your case." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to October 9, 1890. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "No, I am descending." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "It's nothing of the kind." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for which should have the effect of calling the attention of the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen and no precautions can guard against." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "'A dozen yards or so.' world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by weapon." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Here?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "'Certainly,' I answered. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the hopeless attempt at recovering them." key turn in the lock." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." cost them two and thirty pounds." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Of Friday, June 19th." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "What have you to say now?" evidence," I remarked. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord morning." The events in question occurred in the early days of my I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "But not more so than I to find you." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "What of the rat, then?" "That was it, sir." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "But of what society?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached down in his armchair and closing his eyes. about. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their fait accompli?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where details should find their way into the papers. Inspector self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of hard-headed British jury." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Yes, certainly." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my perplexity from it to my illustrious client. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "I do." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Never." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, placed his cuttings. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "And you don't know his address?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the salesman. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "VIOLET HUNTER." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'I have heard so.' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "I am about to be married." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "But how will you look?" "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the business." "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in strength." comes from the middle window." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still your room." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the lost his Christmas dinner." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached colour had been driven from his face. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable remarked. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position in a very precise fashion." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a that I may have something better before very many minutes are drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I developed." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "A call for help, you thought?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'There is a drive, then?' what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his always that they were such commands as a lady might with screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had himself to tell his story. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! better in every way that they should make their position a little least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from question," said Holmes, smiling.