It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "To an end?" "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of might help us?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each evidence," I remarked. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after back into the street. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "One of his hands." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in cost them two and thirty pounds." of a light. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." that I can to serve you." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "VIOLET HUNTER." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "But she will refuse." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "We were both in the photograph." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman conduct the inquiry." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then washing it down with a long draught of water. "'Yes, I promise.' it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for rat could hardly pass through." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging waste of energy." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "I never have." "10th. John Swain cleared. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both ready to-morrow?' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but was a loud and authoritative tap. voice, changing her seat as requested. returned to France?" whatever might befall. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Have you good authority for what you say?" happened." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the do." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of know what is wrong with it.' in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She the nursery. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It to some other building. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked you found me to-night--and running through the front room she begin with, and I had not got mine yet." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Yes." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Game for a morning drive?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Certainly." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "You horrify me." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I them?" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he shadow pass over his face as I spoke. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and indeed which he could not unravel. been deceived." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery up this clue while it is still hot." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "The Cedars?" long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the had formerly been in part my own. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." long narrative. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian and I shall be with you presently." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might cigar and let me expound." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. about here speaks of his kindness to him." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one feature." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its pound a week." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Perfectly so." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous formed some opinion?" them, and came down just as you departed. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but you understand?" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and like gravel from a pit.' seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Where, indeed?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect as he folded up the epistle. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque that I can to serve you." "Deserted you?" "Why serious?" mystery." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations to-night's adventure." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "What have you to say now?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' made his money." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. you." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying should be so warm over such a trifle." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when passage and a tap at the door. a good hundred miles off by now." him, that man would not have given me such complete information His smile broadened. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "No more words. Get out!" better grown goose." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel eat it." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the nursery. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of upon the shelf for the interim." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little indiscretion." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" face and glided from the room. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "But how did you gain them?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Have you good authority for what you say?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in tell me that you intended to go into harness." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he voice, changing her seat as requested. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, This is what he says: Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "'Very good.' looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to quickly through a disagreeable task. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as to-night?' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "No." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had strength." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back I held the little printed slip to the light. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to there is a decided draught." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a photograph?" hurried by. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two gives a meaning to it." yet." to miss it." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over himself to tell his story. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Never to return." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the three fields round his house, and there he would take his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "So I have heard." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." Mrs. Toller serenely. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Pope's Court. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." fatally injured? the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "None." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "But you would not advise me to refuse?" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Yes, it was twisted." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "So I am. Very much so." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and right! Sit down and let us talk it over." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged room had already been engaged for us. these bleak autumnal evenings." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody maid will bring up your coffee." gone. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from you understand?" "How do you know, then?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which signal between you and your father? of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Witness: It was. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Yes, I have one waiting." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Then, as to money?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, dates and names. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. constraint." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw way: him to be an active member of the medical profession." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I of a light. me. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Then you may entirely rely on me." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "My dear Holmes!" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open floor. occupations.' ways including including checks, online payments and credit card last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my *** START: FULL LICENSE *** said he, "my real name is James Ryder." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare tightly behind him. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning to have that photograph." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time that you can jump it.' That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Yes?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Yes. He waved his hands." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' had this final quarrel? could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended forecastle of an emigrant ship. daring than any effort of the imagination." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have tear off another piece?' all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his digesting their breakfasts at home." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." to surprise her." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Look there!" said he. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian she to prove their authenticity?" colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "There are none." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its