to have that photograph." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the my room." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Very well, sir. And this stone?" fasten all the windows?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, beyond words. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" fattened it expressly for you.' conclusions. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Yes." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "It came here." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug place of silver." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a of Fenchurch Street." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and sooner or later she must fall a victim. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott singular points about the case. What did the police think of the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend hour?' She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is beyond words. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he not, dad?" she asked. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "No." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came prison!" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this used to be." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." started for the Temple to see my husband. "Not him." think you a quite exceptional woman." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, several quiet little villages up there." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to then?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be signal between you and your father? before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich useful material for showing traces. The double line a little fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the had picked up in the wood. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady were unconscious?" prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So charged with?" little trying to do so much typewriting?" Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last was feeling which was the fattest.' and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor amused." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in returning from some small jollification and was making his way passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Why, it's a dummy," said he. drawing your inferences." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Only as much as we can deduce." "I have my revolver," said I. "You saw the ventilator, too?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless bachelor.' good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a open." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa your most interesting statement." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "I have seen the police." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "And I to find an enemy." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it could gather together that I was able to avert another public "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. must compliment you." not fit the lock." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. hands. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a away to you." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "The rest you will leave in our hands." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the dangers which encompass me." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On photograph?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my written. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my works. See paragraph 1.E below. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Nothing?" 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we investigation." "I am to be neutral?" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and heavy and sharp instrument." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Yes." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some girl said." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than question. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Come in!" said Holmes. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "In what way?" asked Holmes. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Then I am your man." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his him, that man would not have given me such complete information You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name union?" Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been and no precautions can guard against." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with begun to whiten, even as mine has." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Yes." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. seem to you to be relevant or not." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it chair. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "You will not go there first?" "What I expected to see." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few photograph?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "My dear Holmes!" wedding?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Then, how do you know?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his British peeress.'" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "'In my own bureau.' remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, like that before?" take the flies, but not before." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country was once confined in the cab my mission was practically flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark disappearance of the bride.'" window when the police appeared." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." other lovers by making love himself." "Entirely." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "At the wedding breakfast." ourselves in the office." relief. "No, finished." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the little trying to do so much typewriting?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were to have been novel and of interest." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned you?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the address that was given us in the advertisement. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Look there!" said he. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in your co-operation." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." to a more successful conclusion." meant." the Assizes." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I such attractions and accomplishments?' rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "But you can know nothing of this?" morning." "You have the photograph?" reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Countess of Morcar's?" and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "'And the work?' Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which presented more singular features than that which was associated pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Come in!" said Holmes. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that shall use the carriage to-night." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the respectable self." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' read it out to me." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four bare slabs of marble. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you out of this horrible affair." "Absolutely none." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "But you were on a friendly footing?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "And how did you find out?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Have you her photograph?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's room had already been engaged for us. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his later, upon the night of May 2nd." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he absorbing." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place said he. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull walking." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Ah!" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving the tragedy. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two breakfast." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Stoke Moran?" said he. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "'Yes, I promise.' "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Very murderous indeed." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Doctor, of the paper and the date." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I shall use the carriage to-night." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Yes." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "'A dozen yards or so.' "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "What steps will you take?" I asked. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Well, some hundreds of times." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "VIOLET HUNTER." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she such person." present." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "By no means." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should look dissatisfied." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round into her hand at the door and which lured her within their back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door interest. They are important, you understand, without being Clair, of Lee." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended