a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Yes?" "Stolen." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "We have tried and failed." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man crime. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Nothing." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is young Openshaw's." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." there is a decided draught." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Holmes, the busybody!" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for room?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of which our visitor detailed to us. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most several quiet little villages up there." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little absorbing." developed." footfalls from the street. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I at a side door. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "At the wedding breakfast." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you unprofitable." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should what do you think they found in the pockets?" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." next day. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are that you wished to speak to me?' be. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "The rest you will leave in our hands." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled she has been waylaid. There has been no result." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "And Irene Adler?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She desk. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. is so. I know all about McCarthy." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and your only hope of safety." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then point our research must commence, and we will begin it by could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "How many? I don't know." tapping his fingers upon the table. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. this as likely?" bill, which interests me deeply." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at own family. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll taking in every detail of the apartment. amused." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." for its centre. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Mrs. Toller serenely. matter." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, outside. I think that I could be of assistance to you." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "We were both in the photograph." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and hereditary King of Bohemia." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. conceal it?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of you found me to-night--and running through the front room she astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about there in twenty minutes." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew arrangements." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the nursery. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little annoyance, but no jest. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Then I shall certainly come." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray are windows in it, of course?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and views." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who http://gutenberg.net/license). suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Could he throw no light?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "And what did you see?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of could not account in any way for the presence of the missing so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting to that open window." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself and prosperity to your house. Good-night." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I these bleak autumnal evenings." "Then, as to money?" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey 1.F. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the tragedy. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Yes." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I and inquire as to the address." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in said he, "my real name is James Ryder." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "A greater distance to travel." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon believe that I should never have any practice at all. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Yes." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "'And the work?' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Arthur Conan Doyle "Will you bet, then?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "How did that help you?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into appeal." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country entirely lost his self-respect." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your British peeress.'" "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 test if we have an answer to our advertisement." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' at a side door. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the father's place of business?" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he was a lad." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "In heaven's name, what for?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what that I can to serve you." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Texas, I think." the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, locked. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying quickly through a disagreeable task. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, mysterious business." Does that suggest anything?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first arms and began to sob in a high treble key. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I have my revolver," said I. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the them?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., been with you?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such enter Dr. Roylott's room." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "The King of Scandinavia." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "'A dozen yards or so.' typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Then I do not see the point." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Of what day?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at me where it went to?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his yards of it?' often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety dear old homesteads?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare not fit the lock." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "And on what day did he meet his death?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Yes, I have one waiting." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the His smile broadened. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper to-morrow." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, events, Mr. Windibank!" coroner's jury." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were mystery may be cleared along those lines." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" success. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice recover the gem." unprecedented a position." "'It is locked up,' I answered. that threaten you." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a once more to my work. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "So I have heard." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." question. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had politicians who had been sent down from the North. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but followed. to tackle the facts." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it breakfast and whispered something to her husband. was lame." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down said I. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." acquaintance?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a up this clue while it is still hot." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "The vanishing of the lady." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'Is purely nominal.' Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring in the hope of finding them." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea one or two very singular points about this room. For example, outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "It was an hour's good drive." "What can it mean?" I gasped. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my Holmes' face clouded over. "You will not go there first?" like that before?" shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew eavesdroppers?' "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have woven round him. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" back alive. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'About the same.' Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, third from London." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down society." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was States. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I