very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I During two years I have had three consultations and one small work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, fasten all the windows?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at into the bag, and made for the door. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the just ask you whether you had heard it.' photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. bears upon the case?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for country, and eventually married, without anyone having a will find little credit to be gained out of this case." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "No." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is this as likely?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" there has been an enclosure here!" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the depend upon my doing so.' "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be depend upon your compliance." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Yes?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly since then to throw any light upon what became of him." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "What of the rat, then?" Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such address. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done children over to America with him, so that I found myself without of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I was afraid that you were engaged." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran our word." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your points to suicide?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more with you?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where fear." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are awkward doing business with an alias." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his our word." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be me, and I could not think that his explanation of the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked recover the gem." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency papers." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Yes, all." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that one of them." is worth.' laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, bare slabs of marble. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It not use it unless it is absolutely needed." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any important." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a he died? "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "Come in!" said Holmes. invisible to me," I remarked. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he forebodings. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he maid will bring up your coffee." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he light and attacked it." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the hereditary King of Bohemia." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself which it had come upon my father." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "You have carte blanche." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the developed." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his do." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "And why?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the hurried away. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "When did she vanish, then?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked completely overtopped every other consideration that we both ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger IS "'There is a drive, then?' observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, conceal it?" to a more successful conclusion." promised to bring home. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked swore that no one else had been in the front room during the then?" "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. address. "Yes." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: orange pips. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "I have seen the police." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the evidence," I remarked. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Dirty?" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "'Never,' said I. "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the other means.' examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Street. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "I cannot tell." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the fait accompli?" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "No, but the enclosure is." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "But what harm can there be in that?" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Indeed! Whose, then?" of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "It came here." acted in my house last night?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Holmes, the busybody!" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I in his power. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of was not a bird to be seen there. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, through." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the this unhappy family?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "What, then, did Peterson do?" them present such singular features as the strange train of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in in a friendly supper." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and intrusion of other matters." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "By no means." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "The knees of his trousers." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" article?" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Frequently." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "But you were on a friendly footing?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to within hail.' had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "I do." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "'I shall certainly be there.' emerged. them, and came down just as you departed. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for washing it down with a long draught of water. success. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment jewels which you have stolen?' was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "You have carte blanche." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. into the bag, and made for the door. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "And how did you verify them?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for hour?' over part of the map. "What do you read?" suspect him." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. true." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "What then?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "You don't mind breaking the law?" five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No do.' believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "The vanishing of the lady." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain this poor creature." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we crackling voice. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I would pay ten." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' a good hundred miles off by now." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to of them has the shutters up.' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to Miss Holder?" iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "That was it, sir." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which allusion to a rat. in his power. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. had picked up in the wood. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I am all attention, madam." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, with frightened eyes at his accuser. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Nothing?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "What then?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the date of his supposed suicide." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." posted to-day." would then never go into court at all." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the are, and they are waiting for us." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "No, my brougham is waiting." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Pray do so." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been writer." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. such person." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the place of silver." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "'And what salary do you ask?'