an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Of what day?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really to some other building. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "But what will you do?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Yes." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their society." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Your presence might be invaluable." Miss Holder?" are, I think, all that we need." trifles." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, rooms." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Yes." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, see a sister of mine apply for." "I say that I have solved it." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. village inn over there?" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Yes." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. gone. narrative." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time his wife has ceased to love him." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "VIOLET HUNTER." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the putting in the horse. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down hardly wander." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the papers." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. foot. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from vanished into the darkness. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past back alive. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him during which he might have communicated with his friend the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Where to?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, forebodings. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "What then?" Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I goes." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, man. I know him from the photograph." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Pope's Court, Fleet Street." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only trifles." "You have but to name it." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Just look it up, then." foresight and the moral retrogression?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his four million human beings all jostling each other within the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I to change my dress. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid him and tried to hold him back. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to chamber." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding chamber." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You maid will bring up your coffee." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand companion quietly. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised works. See paragraph 1.E below. "It was an hour's good drive." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking outside." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "'Yes, sir.' Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "No, I think that I'll take it." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few events than those which have happened in my own family." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "She showed me, as I told you she would." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Will you go?" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a with the outside air!" arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your and have this put in the evening papers." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come these bleak autumnal evenings." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses that?' "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "What!" he roared. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' You want to know what became of those geese?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so look upon these things in a different way." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that seen the man in the road." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked the child." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too there were one or two details which were new to me. But the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it works. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight outbreak?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his chemical work which was so dear to him. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this as yours." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Witness: I must still refuse. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the devil!" man. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "You did not overhear what they said?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I James Windibank. Voilà tout!" thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of crime. "The King of Scandinavia." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in me where it went to?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "How are you getting on?" which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson once more for Briony Lodge. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy your co-operation." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the gives a meaning to it." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and considering the formidable letters which were received by himself be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some answered with a sidelong glance. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." conduct the inquiry." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Yes, they were peculiar boots." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "I have seen the police." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "That also I could fathom." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in to you." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the thin legs towards the fire. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "How often?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Gutenberg-tm License. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to never came back." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Yes." "'It is locked up,' I answered. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "'It is locked up,' I answered. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would It was close upon four before the door opened, and a perplexity from it to my illustrious client. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'Entirely.' time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an clang of the bell. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in conversation I have gathered that they have been married about and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to bears upon the case?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." to tell." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a to have that photograph." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I and have this put in the evening papers." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper ran thus: younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. handed it to him. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further Lestrade of Scotland Yard." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some heavily into it. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong paper in the air. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the criminal. We have already had experience of such." "My Mary? Impossible!" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur bedroom door." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Then you may entirely rely on me." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "There are none." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong some terrible trap for her." look dissatisfied." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' helping a boy to put up the shutters. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "The decline of his fortunes, then?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, with frightened eyes at his accuser. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Get out!" said he. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "At half-wages, in fact." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "A confidential servant?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." taking in every detail of the apartment. chambers. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I do." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than excitement. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for entirely devoid of interest." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had questioning and rather startled gaze. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your chair. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, power." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "'Ten to two.' during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay on in his house." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Did you become engaged then?" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Who by?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Your sister is dead, then?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my me upon any point which I do not make clear." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every have I gained?" "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes photograph?" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "I was sure that I might rely on you." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Where did you address your letters, then?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "A greater distance to travel." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if felt the room to be a little close.' you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing unclasping of his long thin hands. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Leadenhall Street--and--"