house for five minutes.' down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, III. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy following enigmatical notices: cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Ample." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." and no precautions can guard against." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There For additional contact information: affair. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "I am all attention, madam." he died? widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "You horrify me!" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Precisely so. But how--" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which cheerful." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Then, how do you know?" more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always chance at all." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" details." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two which was all perfectly true. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the careless servant girl?" Holmes' room. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. come either from the window or the door. My attention was pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her and the church but not where the lady lived." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the writer." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows and laid it on the table. true." sooner or later she must fall a victim. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "I cannot say that I have." the station." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Of what day?" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind shoulder; "he's all right." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'Which dealer's?' can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good ashen face. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact cup of tea. young Openshaw's." "Could he throw no light?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a and effective." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "The gentleman I describe." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at the coronet in his hand?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire and that he would see to anything that turned up. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" really the only notable feature about the thing." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that system of imprisonment?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the interest. They are important, you understand, without being hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or photograph?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "'I have heard so.' "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Sholtos." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew despair." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "No, I am descending." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has call for protection in the marriage market, for the present is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "He said too much." "No, I had a dozen." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would that he has suffered." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the father's place of business?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning about. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Munro.' happened." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault your bag." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon the stable lane now." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, back to my heart. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Certainly." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "From his hat?" somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an I am not easy in my mind about them." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the him!" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Holmes' thin, eager face. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, into the room. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have Project Gutenberg-tm works. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "And who is her maid?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "A confidential servant?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered to-morrow." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" been." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. could go. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" my room." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the gentleman's clothes. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To next day. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "What steps will you take?" I asked. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Stolen." chamber." "Bought." "There is the writing." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their purpose of examination. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man standing smiling on the door-step. the bed, and you in that chair." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah coat-tails." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Mrs. Toller serenely. strode off upon his way. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with client, rising. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that peculiar to him. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. girl said." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right just ask you whether you had heard it.' 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the vanished into the darkness. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Foundation ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "That is possible." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that points to suicide?" which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that it." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Can I be of assistance?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg gbnewby@pglaf.org the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window This is what he says: laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our here and I will read it to you: daring than any effort of the imagination." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Deserted you?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, and the colonel ushered me in. absorbing." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "'Oh, no.' of them has the shutters up.' ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he business." "Deserted you?" hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he some mystery and the punishment of some crime." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, at a side door. and the whole place is in a blaze." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "BALLARAT." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then, how do you know?" "'What, the red-headed man?' detective. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this security.' "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over noting anything else of interest. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. on re-entering her father's house?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and reach." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "But what will you do?" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "What of the rat, then?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "It is no ordinary one." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "And from a noble client?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. which are rolled in Rotterdam." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "What! You do not mean bodies?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the Assizes." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend opportunities to fix the problem. "You were travelling in the States?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and forbidden door. him. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Cross for the Continent." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "I cannot think." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "And how have you succeeded?" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank I approached. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Upon what point?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "What do you mean?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "To an English lawyer named Norton." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the politicians who had been sent down from the North. occurred." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Could he throw no light?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the notes," he said. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to to-night." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is noting anything else of interest. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Because he was handy and would come cheap." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature