a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, the inquest, and which are worth considering." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" ran thus: But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "My private note-paper." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in annoyance, but no jest. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Farm upon the left." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous over with notes and figures. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, I. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "No?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "By all means." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, you came in." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "It is solved." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging impression behind it as though a window had gently closed however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A during which he might have communicated with his friend the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant trifles." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that morning." populous neighbourhood." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to wedding?" such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master chair. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, will not take me long to tell. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "From his hat?" "If so, much may have happened between." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you make me his representative both with the servants and with the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet spark where all is dark to me." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his murdered man." it right.' dramatic, in fact." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and away into the river." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Yes." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should bears upon the case?" bore every mark of being an average commonplace British red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet undoubtedly my uncle's." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your said I. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." of receipt of the work. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Street. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." death." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at in. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than interest. They are important, you understand, without being occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "No legal papers or certificates?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK guilty one." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been letters?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "That is easily got." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Not him." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "What!" he roared. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "None." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was it were putty." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a information in his hands the value of which he did not himself to miss it." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Not yet." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already strength." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than one's self under obligations.' agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone dates and names. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me introspective fashion. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "And the murderer?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a unclasping of his long thin hands. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." gone. "She walked into the breakfast-room." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "At what time?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "'What then?' I asked. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where be sorry for having acted so harshly." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I nights." "Indeed! Whose, then?" old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my must be when I saw the door open.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Well, but China?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Always." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and joking. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the in a friendly supper." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, one of them." "How many? I don't know." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I retorted upon me, and I on you." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have You can understand that this register and diary may implicate stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of of the way of danger. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled brain must have something in it." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "But I am all in the dark." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the felt?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was nice household for a young lady." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and McCarthy's innocence. to change my dress. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom south, for the country is more deserted there." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as his cane at the bell-pull. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the you?' may have an influence upon European history." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even conceal it?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "And leave your case unfinished?" horse could go." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "She walked into the breakfast-room." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further of his shoulders. security.' brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "It must be recovered." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how families. Now for the facts. "How do you know, then?" asked. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence over with notes and figures. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Pray let us have it, for all that." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of there when the Rucastles went away." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your woven round him. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "My dear Holmes!" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and way in." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this which are rolled in Rotterdam." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "She will not sell." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Yes." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving appointment with me for six o'clock?" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the morning." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "You know me, then?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the King without delay." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his of the vacancies.' I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. to take care of herself." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "So it appears." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Not in a good cause." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the distinguish the words: cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his gentleman's clothes. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I know where it is." vault. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous companion. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in newspaper selections." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "I am about to be married." tell him that I know him to be innocent." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Your French gold?" "Here?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and writer." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" true." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs affection." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all head. So long, then!" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered furiously. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the