Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a Holmes." been able to understand it, in a very few words. man. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as fuss that is made over them." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, maiden herself was most instructive." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the of them has the shutters up.' I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "I know where it is." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address very peculiar words of the dying woman?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. foresight and the moral retrogression?" some city in a dream. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "You are certainly joking, Holmes." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Come in!" said Holmes. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in were wasted." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "'I have already given you my word.' o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "No." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" place of silver." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled your bag." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, my former friend and companion. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "But you have hopes?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in the Friday. Was it to be in church?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out present strange and interesting features that it is no easy sake, don't!" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Then how many are there?" least a fellow-countryman. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when his face. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number you." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as constraint." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "On the contrary, this is the right side." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of locked." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other yards of it?' bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this that, and I came down." which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a said Mr. Holder. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very all that?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It which we had just quitted. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an completely overtopped every other consideration that we both lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of been shamefully used." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in to-morrow." "'Certainly not.' phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you here." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Proceed, then." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would of fine shops and stately business premises that they really will be renamed. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still past. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and interest. They are important, you understand, without being my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, ways of our fellow-men." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Pool. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "But how?" your sleep?' "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray imbecility!" he cried. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "It is his hat." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom on in his house." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Yes, that is the Crown." "But his left-handedness." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "I am sure." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "To an end?" was a perfect sample of the class. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "Holmes, the busybody!" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and cigars in the box." "Yes, all." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate was shining brightly. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Yes, it would be as well." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "But of what society?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying lips." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the true." Gutenberg-tm License. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "And from a noble client?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since to his chemical studies. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the child." did not hear it also.' If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack The note was undated, and without either signature or address. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the my little problems." possible that we could bring him back to her? the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the hair?' creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "But of what society?" I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was lame." Mrs. Toller serenely. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "'Which dealer's?' might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the salesman. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have posted to-day." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" the warnings." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor this Miss Turner." Serpentine Avenue. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." new acquaintance to Baker Street. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "'Never,' said I. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "An accident, I presume?" bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the relief. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "Was she in good spirits?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to whether it answered to the description of any of their was used.' recall any case within my experience which looked at the first crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Yes, sir." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is an introduction to him?" He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. photograph?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose a good hundred miles off by now." about. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. place no limit on the sum I may draw." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Really! You surprise me." served to weaken the effect. "No. What a strange idea!" families. Now for the facts. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that deduce something from that?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "If so, much may have happened between." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: his fortune, and I went back to pa. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at the south-west, I see." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor rooms." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." to surprise her." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should lamp. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the too. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "'There is a drive, then?' that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "It missed him, then?" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and annoyance, but no jest. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's hour." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but upon the white wrist. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "What! a murderous attack?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent hopeless attempt at recovering them." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive 1.F. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "Of what day?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of take the flies, but not before." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Well, some hundreds of times." sparkled upon his finger. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see geese which you supplied to the Alpha." again, where I was soon asleep. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Yes, that is the Crown." heavy and sharp instrument."