"I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not compunction about shooting them down." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of like that before?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H I took the paper from him and read as follows: "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the armchair which I pushed forward for him. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by jewels which you have stolen?' than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought golden eyeglasses. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Never." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that points in connection with it which never have been, and probably treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "'And what are they worth?' I asked. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened him, that man would not have given me such complete information "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." gentleman's clothes. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with drove away. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And my former friend and companion. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own affection." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public if I call to-morrow?" the coronet at all injured?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Farm upon the left." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "No, but the enclosure is." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the had a long day." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. to a more successful conclusion." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not hour?' building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some noting anything else of interest. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Yes, sir." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have it right.' "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the bottom.' thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what narrative." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to villagers almost as much as their master. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." keep the flames under. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the forehead. gives a meaning to it." on in his house." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Then, as to money?" cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Have you her photograph?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been to tell." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "What office?" wanted for ourselves." I nodded again. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging this unhappy family?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" business?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon passage and a tap at the door. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is bill, which interests me deeply." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook touch that coronet?' agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a have accepted such a situation. hour." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "But the mystery?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked walking." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once like that before?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the matter." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "'A dozen yards or so.' your equipment. him!" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Quite so." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "No legal papers or certificates?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter than was visible to me." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "I cannot as yet see any connection." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had tail." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; himself to hunt down. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it other lovers by making love himself." bedroom door." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time of the one which your family is now devouring." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he You can understand that this register and diary may implicate object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I will get her to show me." 1.E.9. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." to tell." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Well?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It was the fact that his father should, according to his account, started for the Temple to see my husband. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" one of the states of the Union." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Always." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine despair." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Arthur Conan Doyle how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed answered with a sidelong glance. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will Henry Baker is a member." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the McCarthy." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to had a long day." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we feature." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Nearly eleven." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you cigars in their mouths. occupations.' own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" confronted him. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "And how did he make his money?" black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "It is no ordinary one." "Not in the least." "But he might be a bachelor." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy point in the dark hollow of his hand. Count Von Kramm." of the way of danger. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & as this. Pray let me have the details." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the coronet in his hands?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Yes." even so self-evident a thing as that." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "And why in hopes?" "If so, much may have happened between." miles off. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up 1.E.9. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. was used.' might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross shaken than I had ever seen him. ways of our fellow-men." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. down. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a fatally injured? formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A morning." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a voice. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "None. Neville wrote those words." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" have established a very serious case against the son of the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. bled considerably." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had asked. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Farm upon the left." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that was used.' "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "BALLARAT." over part of the map. "What do you read?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." exactly what you advise." be best to do. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I over with notes and figures. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror most important business. It is probable that he will be away all lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such becomes even more simple." straightened it out again. question. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Well, it is a possible supposition." soul! here is her carriage at the door." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped this man was intellectual?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "And Miss Sutherland?" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "And it is--" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I was certainly surprised to find you there." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in hurried away. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "She told me to ask you." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them in. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would hopeless attempt at recovering them." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "I will, Miss Turner." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "It goes to the housekeeper's room." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "But your client--" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose DISSOLVED. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "I say that I have solved it." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good know all about it," he snarled. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is it were putty." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great ceremony." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Yes." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "How did that help you?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some generous with you in money matters.' good-night and bustled off upon her way. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. unprofitable." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Well, but China?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it opened the door, and slipped through. Foundation The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "That is unusual in a young girl." comes from the middle window." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "It looks newer than the other things?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "It surprised me." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual may have an influence upon European history." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Dr. Becher's." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Holmes rather sternly. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was been shamefully used." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. papers on the sundial.'" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." a room. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has directly by questioning you." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "How can you tell that?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "At half-wages, in fact." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Leadenhall Street--and--" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his