to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my have accepted such a situation. your equipment. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest events than those which have happened in my own family." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter less than 26s. 4d. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation friends, not even his own brother. "And how did he make his money?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "One of the highest in England." "The best possible." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put will take you up to see the machine.' "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I him!" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the such attractions and accomplishments?' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I beg pardon." chill to my heart. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling possible that we could bring him back to her? over part of the map. "What do you read?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached events than those which have happened in my own family." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my depend upon your compliance." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any and effective." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last kindly on the shoulder. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked papers must be those that are destroyed.' your co-operation." had picked up in the wood. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One learned something! Where are the gems?" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. dead, shall be safe with us." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" 1.E.9. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "You horrify me!" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "And how?" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank sentimental considerations in the background which would induce another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an to surprise her." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "But she could not love him." nice household for a young lady." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight nights." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I been." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind said he. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "I should like to see him very much." "I cannot say that I have." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless bedroom door." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so been with you?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "That you are never beaten." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the before the coroner and the police-court." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "The rest you will leave in our hands." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel papers must be those that are destroyed.' return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself his face. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. could go. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. you in yours." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help I shall continue with my miserable story. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is shaken than I had ever seen him. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Chief Executive and Director "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot individual and becomes the badge of a society." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not with her." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave learned something! Where are the gems?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "None." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate least a fellow-countryman. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried it right.' me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. the bed, and you in that chair." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant him!" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off This is what he says: bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Then I am your man." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "I cannot as yet see any connection." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "In answer to an advertisement." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. his cane at the bell-pull. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is The telegram which we eventually received came late one night while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was gone. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the points in connection with it which never have been, and probably corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless will he say when he returns?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London is," said he presently: "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to directors have had misgivings upon the subject." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Here?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a and inquire as to the address." you give your casting vote to?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Yes." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "'Why that?' I asks. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and remarked. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Then he might have called to you?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee For additional contact information: "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle crowd. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "The Cedars?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a showing my impatience. "That you are never beaten." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Have you good authority for what you say?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever recover the gem." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, you." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant The police have openly confessed that they can at present make back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my I nodded again. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "And who is her maid?" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he what is your own theory as to what took place?" "So I am. Very much so." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard to a light-house. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it fashion which was peculiar to him. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Did your wife hear all this?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had shall not find me ungrateful." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, beyond words. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "It goes to the housekeeper's room." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and might help us?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Ample." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and murdered man." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to certainly not very gracious." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go spark where all is dark to me." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. the loss of it. "'You cannot say what it was?' note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate lips." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Holmes' room. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot whether it answered to the description of any of their succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "But how?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too examine." "I shall most certainly do so." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him room had already been engaged for us. "'I am sure that I do not know.' fuss that is made over them." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Really! You surprise me." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, best detective that ever lived. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "I should wish to." gigantic client. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "He is dead," cried several voices. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all through." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master to where he stood hid behind the curtain. helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of hour." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This next day. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better already been minutely examined." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Indeed! Whose, then?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, points to suicide?" memory. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the best of training." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Were they all fastened this morning?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "No good news?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "At the wedding breakfast." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the the coronet in his hand?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Precisely." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Why? What do you mean?" He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is in him." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you which it had come upon my father." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who know that the truth is known." It may be so in this case, also." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were father's young wife. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough congratulate you again." pierced for earrings?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Were they all fastened this morning?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "What! You do not mean bodies?" face and glided from the room. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his conduct the inquiry." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in