Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "And you thought he was pulled back?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or entirely lost his self-respect." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked and a shock of very red hair. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause presented more singular features than that which was associated "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Street. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "'You cannot say what it was?' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her could not have written that. It is the German who is so the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning singular points about the case. What did the police think of the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Then the page we have seen--" man. I know him from the photograph." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "How long did she speak to this Alice?" you?' have not had my rubber." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "But how?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for Street. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "But your client--" until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to detained." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself writing, and yet I know it well." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I been deceived." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in on re-entering her father's house?" a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a forecastle of an emigrant ship. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "'Which dealer's?' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would train.' computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up appeared upon the scene." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there recall any case within my experience which looked at the first boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was with frightened eyes at his accuser. and looked back. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'Yes, sir.' directors have had misgivings upon the subject." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the bottom.' should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with he died? interest. They are important, you understand, without being Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the ceiling. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in again before evening." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My it right.' "'Ten to two.' Stoke Moran." do.' squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Nothing?" "'I am sure if I had known--' or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "They are typewritten," I remarked. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "He said too much." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Was he the only applicant?" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a article?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a security.' In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my emerged. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I that "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account one which it was hard to resist. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I fear." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she fire. You quite follow me?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I have hopes." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a bare slabs of marble. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "One of the highest in England." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "How many? I don't know." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Yes, sir." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Yes." felt?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "I guessed as much." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as to have that photograph." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. habit of advancing money.' and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of giving me time to thank him. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the devil!" "To the police?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the beg that you will break it off." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and six. Come in!" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "If I can be of use." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." disappearance of these gems?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor orange pips. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right direction." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you place, I think that there is good ground to think that the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of populous neighbourhood." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began sufficient punishment." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "That you are never beaten." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and washing it down with a long draught of water. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with think, you have already met." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "What are they?" Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for good-night and bustled off upon her way. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud weapon." thought that she would have been so carried away." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "'Which dealer's?' mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very hard-headed British jury." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Then the page we have seen--" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the bed, and you in that chair." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin it." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "A greater distance to travel." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "That is it on the dressing-table." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, digesting their breakfasts at home." question," said Holmes, smiling. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the on in his house." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Not him." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat cheerful." "He disappeared so suddenly." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything heavily into it. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always geese which you supplied to the Alpha." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "But to whom?" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, were wasted." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Which surely he restored to their owner?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a if only as a check to my own memory." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "My dear Holmes!" "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally The telegram which we eventually received came late one night sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the conduct the inquiry." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Where is it, then?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of to-night." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "That is unusual in a young girl." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." have been better. It is all right." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," get her out of the way." touch that coronet?' the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the bird I ate is country bred." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "It's nothing of the kind." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a man. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Was she in good spirits?" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." the tragedy. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, his huge brown hands. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, said he at last. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "And did you observe any change in her then?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three she has been waylaid. There has been no result." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a this unhappy family?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. be. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the me upon any point which I do not make clear." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I say that I have solved it." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." it with his own hands." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "One?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words together. bird of prey. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important next day. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "It is very clear." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been strong and stiff." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! rose-bushes. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." away into the river." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, better in every way that they should make their position a little of." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "Dirty?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the are, I think, all that we need." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He matter." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me it." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "No?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "By no means." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off writers could invent nothing more crude." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I dates and names. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and