copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to and it need not interfere very much with one's other large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "None." "I will not look." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive strong and stiff." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we these bleak autumnal evenings." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Why? What do you mean?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found his knees, staring into the fire. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to it." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to train.' his knees, staring into the fire. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Deserted you?" may have an influence upon European history." "That is unusual in a young girl." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as in this note: clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may views." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we envelope. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. window when the police appeared." national property. I was determined that the law should have its thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm lectures into a series of tales." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying thought that she would have been so carried away." "Look there!" said he. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "It was a confession," I ejaculated. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all room?" pierced for earrings?" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key my secret was safe in his possession. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which point in the dark hollow of his hand. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself goes." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the telegram would bring me down to your help." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "None." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I have a cab outside." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a DISSOLVED. prison!" helping a boy to put up the shutters. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to hopeless attempt at recovering them." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, absorbing." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one very peculiar words of the dying woman?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "The landlord of the Alpha." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that the address that was given us in the advertisement. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "I will not look." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, bled considerably." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "I see no marks." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the redistribution. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, your most interesting statement." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Always." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, room. strong and stiff." "What office?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project face and glided from the room. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "The King of Scandinavia." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" DISSOLVED. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their his cane at the bell-pull. meant." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I would pay ten." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See indeed happy." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I recover the gem." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had to a more successful conclusion." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." tension within him. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who my little problems." these bleak autumnal evenings." views." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "And why?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in undoubtedly my uncle's." "We must have a cab." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would better in every way that they should make their position a little landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the article?" spare." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some been deceived." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "I cannot imagine." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with highly," said Holmes. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and quick march!" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "And why?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "And how?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you photograph?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast shoulder. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Has he come with you to-night?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Surrey." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. before, for it was considerably after midnight. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was hardly wander." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Then what has happened to him?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "And why?" it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "His face fell immediately. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Stolen." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Where, then?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk appointment with me for six o'clock?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid During two years I have had three consultations and one small petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not highly," said Holmes. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first certainly not very gracious." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to I took the paper from him and read as follows: round and wave him away like that.' kind enough to tell me what I should do." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss been." "My dear Holmes!" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." you do it in twenty minutes!' "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" waste of energy." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "So I heard. You have him here?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "And the murderer?" never to learn it at all." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an through." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "But I have heard all that you have heard." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "'A dozen yards or so.' beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was confronted him. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Countess of Morcar's?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I and inquire as to the address." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Here?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my good-night and bustled off upon her way. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client answered with a sidelong glance. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the of campaign. directly by questioning you." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be once more on the important position which you have been fortunate step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the best of training." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, the matter." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your interest. They are important, you understand, without being return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from ago." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "He might." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "But you were on a friendly footing?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "You have compromised yourself seriously." paper in the air. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest him to be an active member of the medical profession." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Were they all fastened this morning?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing a good hundred miles off by now." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Yes." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "This photograph!" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "We must have a cab." "And why?" "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" to take care of herself." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not fasten all the windows?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has populous neighbourhood." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or he bowed and left the room without another word. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly what I may call a really hard day's work." what I may call a really hard day's work." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon everything which you would wish to know." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a take the flies, but not before." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "To the police?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your chambers. 1.F. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number were new raised from a basin. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "No sign of it?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We upon the shelf for the interim." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us tightly behind him. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "But what harm can there be in that?" interests were the same as his." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "None." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose late!' judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding papers on the sundial.'" fatally injured? there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all the Red-headed League." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, have an American origin." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "But his left-handedness."