1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Never." "It is true that I have been generally successful." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. derbies." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." on in his house." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "No, thank goodness, she did not." "I see many objections to any such theory." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss evidence," I remarked. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, someone who had been in Australia." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one affection." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a generous with you in money matters.' For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "'You cannot say what it was?' "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this footfalls from the street. system of imprisonment?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Yes, I have one waiting." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a vault. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. nice household for a young lady." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went States. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been woven round him. "What! Had he lost his wife?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, into the room. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "And how?" "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent bore every mark of being an average commonplace British actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, became a certainty. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Precisely so. But how--" deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could shag which I had seen upon the previous night. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "What, then?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Yes." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and strong and stiff." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "I shall be delighted." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see me have 200 pounds?' their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had locked." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to this Miss Turner." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different my secret was safe in his possession. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that mysterious business." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the hurried away. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by weigh very heavily upon my conscience." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. confronted him. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "You are certainly joking, Holmes." appeal." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Countess of Morcar's?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. not come at once?" more terrible than the truth. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two new acquaintance to Baker Street. floor. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of to-night's adventure." your equipment. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on with you alone." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Yes." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "But how will you look?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several future lives." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "I promise," said Holmes. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good as this. Pray let me have the details." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again breakfast and whispered something to her husband. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight ready to-morrow?' "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite of Fenchurch Street." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "'What, the red-headed man?' hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the roots. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. more terrible than the truth. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "The landlord of the Alpha." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Whose house is it?" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in Stoke Moran." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as good for you to do.' station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "What I expected to see." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "I answered that I had not. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and highroad, where all traces were lost. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square returning from some small jollification and was making his way Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I fattened it expressly for you.' we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to 1.F. place of silver." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Yesterday." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "She showed me, as I told you she would." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "And what then?" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. know that the truth is known." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the foot. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I DAMAGE. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Yes." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "It is a murder, then?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons felt?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they I shall communicate with you." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "'What do you call purely nominal?' rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "But how did you gain them?" "The Cedars?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should there is a decided draught." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "No." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. individual and becomes the badge of a society." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San remarked. "What do you make of that, Watson?" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face out of this horrible affair." following enigmatical notices: was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in himself to hunt down. passage and a tap at the door. that test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "What of the rat, then?" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled in this way: coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. yards of it?' was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening overpowering excitement and concern. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "About a month then." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." way in everything. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Not I." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the politicians who had been sent down from the North. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but dead, shall be safe with us." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire because she had spent so short a time in this country that she examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away photograph?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I will get her to show me." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, than to us. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for a good hundred miles off by now." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an papers diligently of late, have you not?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these my friend's incisive reasoning. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall interest. They are important, you understand, without being controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Holmes' room. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so be there in time for your coming." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I may have an influence upon European history." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking forbidden door. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change unclasping of his long thin hands. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black already referred to. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the stones. Dr. Gregory B. Newby this unhappy family?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with events, Mr. Windibank!" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. should be so warm over such a trifle." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert and looked back. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the bottom.' same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the be there in time for your coming." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: through." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do results." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance,