were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Where, then, is my wife?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "I am sure." in darkness. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Deserted you?" fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' before the coroner and the police-court." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "'In my own bureau.' manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. DAMAGE. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "I think it very unlikely." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a walking." here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "She showed me, as I told you she would." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck over with notes and figures. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "One of the highest in England." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You and the whole place is in a blaze." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his examination of the premises, but without finding anything which money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' opened a pocket-book and took out a note. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every your bag." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "None. Neville wrote those words." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "A client, then?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the became a certainty. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as the station." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "You think that he is dead?" woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "I am still in the dark." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and breakfast." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you with the outside air!" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "The Cedars?" old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "What do you make of that, Watson?" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "It missed him, then?" it." read over the extraordinary announcement. "Precisely." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came of it with the greatest attention. fattened it expressly for you.' streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect asked with his eyes open. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by neither fascinating nor artistic." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Yes." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back distinguish the words: entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" main points of my analysis." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I were unconscious?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "He said that you could solve anything." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "I cannot think." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no companion quietly. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and and that he would see to anything that turned up. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from breakfast?" friends, not even his own brother. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "What then?" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "On the contrary, this is the right side." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Did you observe the colour?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and of campaign. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia advice." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Certainly." congratulate you again." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the learned something! Where are the gems?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "What have you to say now?" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Will you go?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will absorbing." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm became a certainty. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and once more on the important position which you have been fortunate offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up highroad, where all traces were lost. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house October 9, 1890. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got she might be summoned. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the would then never go into court at all." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, me." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent hand, madam?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep green of the new foliage. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he to a more successful conclusion." 1.E.9. "No." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I I was concerned in it." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the so-precious time, but come!' prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down showing my impatience. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "My Mary? Impossible!" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in matter." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Frequently." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too now. It seems that there had been some informality about their less than 26s. 4d. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was come either from the window or the door. My attention was from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my advice." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there tightly behind him. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It is true that I have been generally successful." II. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Perhaps I have." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one were new raised from a basin. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one as he folded up the epistle. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "The vanishing of the lady." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "It was an hour's good drive." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Henry Baker is a member." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your even so self-evident a thing as that." up this clue while it is still hot." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped indeed happy." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was hand, madam?" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, said he. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that about. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit geese which you supplied to the Alpha." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble business?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "At the wedding breakfast." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in me upon any point which I do not make clear." a very grave face. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is entirely lost his self-respect." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the address that was given us in the advertisement. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a putting in the horse. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular interest. They are important, you understand, without being papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in of receipt of the work. "Yes, certainly." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative locked." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "The vanishing of the lady." tightly behind him. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Doctor, of the paper and the date." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "How long did she speak to this Alice?" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "You think that he is dead?" butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, lamp in his hand. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, good for you to do.' "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the bottom.' values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled she might be summoned. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "And for present expenses?" breakfast." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Did your wife hear all this?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler your co-operation." little trying to do so much typewriting?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent where she found matters as described by the last witness. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we morning." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Mary, has deserted me." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I would give my fortune to have them back." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If only touch the interest." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "It is solved." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit your room." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five ready to-morrow?'