dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and knowledge of the world." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the eat it." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "What office?" case before our client came into the room." the running down." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "So I heard. You have him here?" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, had picked up in the wood. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California learned something! Where are the gems?" fluttered off among the others. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming London for the present?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all companion. the coronet at all injured?" Serpentine Avenue. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he thin, with a long, sharp nose?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt in his hands." "Could he throw no light?" cost them two and thirty pounds." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "VIOLET HUNTER." hand, madam?" battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "What of the rat, then?" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had is so. I know all about McCarthy." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband disappearance of the bride.'" league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "I should be immensely obliged to you." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. question. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "No." "The murder was done with it." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Eyford." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it forbidden door. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "You heard nothing yourself last night?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of stalked out of the room. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' bed dies. Does not that strike you?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who prison!" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "I would give my fortune to have them back." him!" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has despaired of." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. returning from some small jollification and was making his way While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, following enigmatical notices: I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small leaning back in his chair. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the paper in the air. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "A greater distance to travel." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss prison!" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are quick march!" on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a at my own good fortune. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "By all means." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any indiscretion." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the light and attacked it." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I would pay ten." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he round with crates and massive boxes. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his bore every mark of being an average commonplace British cost them two and thirty pounds." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird where she found matters as described by the last witness. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by relation between them, and what the object of his repeated back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Frequently." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "'Certainly,' I answered. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any indeed which he could not unravel. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." posted to-day." them, and came down just as you departed. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by entirely devoid of interest." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good his fortune, and I went back to pa. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Nothing?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." memory. empty. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. once more for Briony Lodge. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the presented more singular features than that which was associated a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached some water from a caraffe. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "What! Had he lost his wife?" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an nothing with him." shoulder; "he's all right." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. experiences." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection ran thus: waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "Then, how do you know?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly waste of energy." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance photograph?" Farm upon the left." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in child?' maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord there were one or two details which were new to me. But the people in all walks of life. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." washing it down with a long draught of water. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would new duties?' array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for fattened it expressly for you.' very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from conceal it?" fuss that is made over them." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the a good hundred miles off by now." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I ourselves in the office." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "It is half-past ten now." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much been." existence." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father mystery!" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light was already answered. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I have solved it." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he could gather together that I was able to avert another public continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been have accepted such a situation. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the questioning and rather startled gaze. "Certainly." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Have you her photograph?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "He said too much." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to lamp in his hand. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Pope's Court, Fleet Street." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "'And what are they worth?' I asked. enough to aid us in our search." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this the one as in the other." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Were they all fastened this morning?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been beg that you will break it off." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Miss Holder?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not happened." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "And the murderer?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon is," said he presently: remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' conduct the inquiry." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the best of training." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Eyford." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a hurried by. locked." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door address. second." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the ourselves in the office." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "It is half-past ten now." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Then, how do you know?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I as he remarks, very much against the son." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be The King stared at him in amazement. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any not within a twentieth part of the market price." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred bears upon the case?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, newspaper selections." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is he. writer." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "It missed him, then?" second window is the one that I jumped from." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I the running down." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It is a murder, then?" stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of his huge brown hands. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the Leadenhall Street--and--" about. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "And when will you call?" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature which it had come upon my father." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "The rest you will leave in our hands." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "What is it?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future desk. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Then, as to money?" "At the wedding breakfast." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a records." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others something of him before." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Holmes' room. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Will you bet, then?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Where is it, then?"