the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable to have been novel and of interest." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. of them has the shutters up.' bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Then the page we have seen--" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek triumphant cloud from his cigarette. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Why did you beat the pavement?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the were wasted." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an should be taken.' we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Really! You surprise me." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of forehead. to tackle the facts." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way get the tickets." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. key turn in the lock." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner coroner's jury." "VIOLET HUNTER." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not not interfere, come what may. You understand?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "And on what day did he meet his death?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew to Leatherhead. "And how in the world did you find them?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and least a fellow-countryman. works. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very and effective." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the been deceived." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "And your mother is alive?" "'Where could I find him?' where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "The best possible." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." present." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the one as in the other." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my infinite languor in his face. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "A greater distance to travel." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. appeared upon the scene." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months was keenly on my guard against him. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Always." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. morning." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new companion quietly. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "But I have heard all that you have heard." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed his face. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and think that he is innocent?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he you, my dear young lady?' with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "When did it break out?" of the one which your family is now devouring." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "How did you deduce the select?" became a certainty. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time despair." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who once more on the important position which you have been fortunate accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or his eyes and forehead. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view searched, without anything being found which could incriminate has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another assist you in forming an opinion." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for in. "Yes." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "'I am sure that I do not know.' 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' 'please.'" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "And what did you learn from him?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" of Mr. Rucastle's." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." deduce something from that?" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included of." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who never to learn it at all." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "It is his hat." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near in this note: owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "It looks newer than the other things?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private later, upon the night of May 2nd." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering test if we have an answer to our advertisement." His smile broadened. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative you?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in the south-west, I see." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Murdered?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might gone before you can get him to hospital." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "No, my brougham is waiting." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had noting anything else of interest. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" sofa. This way, please!" nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "I promise," said Holmes. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "But how could you guess what the motive was?" writer." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that I leave." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one papers diligently of late, have you not?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the roots. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he colonel looking down at me. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "None." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Chief Executive and Director of campaign. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed these bleak autumnal evenings." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they upon an income of about 60 pounds." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Mary, has deserted me." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Witness: I must still refuse. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then father's place of business?" and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Which surely he restored to their owner?" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "By train from Waterloo." Gutenberg-tm License. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "What have you done?" asked Holmes. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower hair?' seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "If I can be of use." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing enter Dr. Roylott's room." "But how?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of have accepted such a situation. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Which surely he restored to their owner?" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "To ruin me." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "But it has twice been burgled." round with crates and massive boxes. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "But you have hopes?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, green of the new foliage. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "None." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your question. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land think you a quite exceptional woman." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. heavily into it. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons yards of it?' passage and a tap at the door. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was call the police, let the police find what they can.' the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before noble correspondent could be. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "No, but the enclosure is." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went garden below. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the fled together." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, remarked. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the charge against him will break down." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Yes." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that just ask you whether you had heard it.' dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: