"A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "But who is he?" the side-table." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." both be extremely obliged.' This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly situation." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police there were one or two details which were new to me. But the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. were unconscious?" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is to tell." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Mrs. Toller serenely. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the hopeless attempt at recovering them." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with call the police, let the police find what they can.' quickly through a disagreeable task. "Witness: I must still refuse. outside. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Foundation adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the general public were present, then?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Then what has happened to him?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, other means.' chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "'Yes, sir.' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front be.' "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the chance." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' shall not find me ungrateful." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I have a cab outside." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "And how have you succeeded?" said he. as noiselessly as she had come. friends, not even his own brother. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The 11:15.' threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of where she found matters as described by the last witness. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Holmes. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. peculiar to him. hurried away. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations highly," said Holmes. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read man. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in I shall communicate with you." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well you do it in twenty minutes!' your troubles." intrusion of other matters." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul returned to France?" "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to more solid." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become was once confined in the cab my mission was practically an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is papers on the sundial.'" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Well, some hundreds of times." The summons was a brief and urgent one. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his to-night?' behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I thirty. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a read it out to me." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his noble correspondent could be. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Always." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could cost them two and thirty pounds." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "But of what society?" "We must sit without light. He would see it through the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the upon a handsome competence. "'I am sure if I had known--' this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "And how have you succeeded?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'Certainly not.' to tell." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and himself to hunt down. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the foresight and the moral retrogression?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "'You cannot say what it was?' wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and retorted upon me, and I on you." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united lectures into a series of tales." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "Now, then, what's the last entry?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa the loss of it. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he his forehead." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Thank you. And your address?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. over here." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "How often?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must garden below. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." of a light. II. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Eyford at 11:15.' address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his companion quietly. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Why serious?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Pool. cause to be." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. there!' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Ah, but I was recommended to you." your co-operation." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the stable lane now." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some during which he might have communicated with his friend the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each never came back." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and gone before you can get him to hospital." "And I." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." events, Mr. Windibank!" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of been lifted and conveyed somewhere." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. emerged. guilty one." said he. "Well." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "9th. McCauley cleared. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from daring than any effort of the imagination." individual and becomes the badge of a society." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. details." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Then I shall certainly come." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he some place of shelter and let the county police know what has her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the matter." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager together. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from think, you have already met." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "What then?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "And how did you verify them?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Ah, but I was recommended to you." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Nothing." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and congratulate you again." woven round him. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such his cane at the bell-pull. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'Which dealer's?' could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the straightened it out again. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up roused himself from his reverie. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "One of the highest in England." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and clanging. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" system of imprisonment?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of a monotonous occupation." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "You are hungry," I remarked. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what From what you have told me I think that it is possible that story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Where does the thing come from?' 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." matters immensely." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after me. entirely devoid of interest." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Absolutely none." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A and that he would see to anything that turned up. "'There is a drive, then?' is entirely a question of barometric pressure." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is me where it went to?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a lost nothing by them." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few fluttered off among the others. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." really the only notable feature about the thing." "You are hungry," I remarked. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for London for the present?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Yes." you?' I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice presume?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have to-night." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Upon what point?" his wife has ceased to love him." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "He said too much." "'It is locked up,' I answered. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about them?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know you understand?" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United there is a decided draught." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise the Assizes." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been villagers almost as much as their master. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the empty. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "I see many objections to any such theory." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I cannot imagine." is four-and-twenty." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "What! a murderous attack?" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge wall." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no mysterious end." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Ah!" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "I think it very unlikely." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the his cane at the bell-pull. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that she might be summoned. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face presume?" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Yes, from Horsham." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the matter?" "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, should be taken.' effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of."