to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." round and wave him away like that.' at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be anything to a woman, for she would have her way." are, I think, all that we need." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the guilty parties." would apply.' whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "I say it is." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions have been better. It is all right." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and grasp, he hurried from the room. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a happened." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by papers." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's one of the states of the Union." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so money should be paid at once.' particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a of Fenchurch Street." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" the child." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that which it had come upon my father." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from was a loud and authoritative tap. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. noble correspondent could be. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since know what is wrong with it.' to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me question," said Holmes, smiling. "My last client of the sort was a king." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a coat-tails." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "It looks newer than the other things?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a father's young wife. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my used to be." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "And why?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "And the cigar-holder?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut you found me to-night--and running through the front room she and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a of Mr. Rucastle's." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Not him." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine mystery may be cleared along those lines." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "My last client of the sort was a king." "It is possible." "'In my own bureau.' "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." upon the sideboard." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "The vanishing of the lady." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered Again Holmes raved in the air. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Sutherland. spark where all is dark to me." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "What is it?" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes disturbance in my wife." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling looking up at the numbers of the houses." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do chair. goes." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the stable lane now." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, the child." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the roots. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "What office?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "'Ample.' carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid do you make of it all?" deduce something from that?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed most important business. It is probable that he will be away all revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Do you go out much in society?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Not social, then?" Does that suggest anything?" "On your arm?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father upon a handsome competence. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes, the wine-cellar." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the problems help me to do so." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went him nearly every evening." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does I shall communicate with you." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am business at Coburg Square is serious." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my furiously. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his was used.' She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will and the whole place is in a blaze." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he gbnewby@pglaf.org attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. call the police, let the police find what they can.' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. is now desirous of getting those letters back." dear old homesteads?" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Where did you address your letters, then?" and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the bed, and you in that chair." "I cannot as yet see any connection." indeed which he could not unravel. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This call you and give you the chance." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Was there a secret marriage?" tear off another piece?' she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, there was no need for father to know." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start done what I asked you, Jones?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." you in yours." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "No. What a strange idea!" to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "And leave your case unfinished?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. of receipt of the work. "Frequently." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" towards the blaze. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different weary and pale-looking. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS garden below. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the salesman. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "It is very clear." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Stoke Moran?" said he. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. to that open window." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his own family. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "What can it mean?" I gasped. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and made him keep the appointment." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Yes." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his place of silver." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would the so-precious time, but come!' "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the roots. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "The knees of his trousers." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their shall use the carriage to-night." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, happened." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "But we can't all be." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he morning." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "In which, sir?" Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Why did you beat the pavement?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "It was an hour's good drive." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young delirious. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen in my life." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a whereabouts. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. You want to know what became of those geese?" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "What then?" It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other the house with me." him!" 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I more solid." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the side-table." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "No good news?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very tied." "Thank you. And your address?" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel true." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking there when the Rucastles went away." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate lost nothing by them." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I don't believe it." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger garden below. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. as the one I chose?' down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My ventilator." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, strange features which were associated with the two crimes which base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly now. It seems that there had been some informality about their and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. I shall continue with my miserable story. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and investigation." "That you are never beaten." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Is he quiet?" the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and trifles." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the case before our client came into the room." "Yes, the wine-cellar." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Why, what do you mean?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that later, upon the night of May 2nd." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we in my life." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "But he might be a bachelor." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I am about to be married." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know."