grasp, he hurried from the room. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the had formerly been in part my own. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my stood on the top of it. "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "It goes to the housekeeper's room." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be one which it was hard to resist. matters immensely." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to Heh?' sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Yes, sir." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked the stable lane now." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are little adventures." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here detective. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he signal between you and your father? volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included I approached. "What, then, did Peterson do?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." habit of advancing money.' incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. amused." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon never to learn it at all." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "That is also quite modern," said the lady. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "I have seen the police." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." figure." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. believe that I should never have any practice at all. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet sneer upon his pale face. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "I say it is." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not handed it to him. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Your presence might be invaluable." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "When did she vanish, then?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what and that he would see to anything that turned up. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., and all of them with the keenest interest. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in problems help me to do so." grasp, he hurried from the room. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Holmes. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" and all of them with the keenest interest. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no fashion which was peculiar to him. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up said he. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned shall use the carriage to-night." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in bed dies. Does not that strike you?" was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly nothing with him." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note may never be exposed to such a temptation." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Witness: Nothing definite. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "And I to find an enemy." to change my dress. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her here and I will read it to you: as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very second window is the one that I jumped from." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect knowledge of the world." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man lost his Christmas dinner." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and indeed which he could not unravel. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the is now desirous of getting those letters back." "And on what day did he meet his death?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most I think that I could be of assistance to you." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Texas, I think." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin get the tickets." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too were new raised from a basin. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant tell me that you intended to go into harness." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little humiliation." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the pressing in one house as in another. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of union?" face and glided from the room. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such residence of the great financier. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of least a most suspicious remark." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Yes." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of I have it here in my museum." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of but preventing her from injuring another. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." events, Mr. Windibank!" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "It surprised me." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Very murderous indeed." business?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "In answer to an advertisement." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of skylight. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, could go. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I were new raised from a basin. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I whether it answered to the description of any of their into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger and glanced through. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had strength." had formerly been in part my own. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, down. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "No." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole bore every mark of being an average commonplace British The King stared at him in amazement. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right placed his cuttings. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. bearing upon the case." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Certainly, madam." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "And from a noble client?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "No. What a strange idea!" of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "'Never,' said I. strong reason behind." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you showing my impatience. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Yes." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared some city in a dream. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was geese which you supplied to the Alpha." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way young Openshaw's." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but visitors." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich front of the hall door has given its name to the place. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "On the contrary, this is the right side." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his returning from some small jollification and was making his way so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "And you can do nothing until then?" entirely lost his self-respect." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Certainly." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "But how?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his made him keep the appointment." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed married her." you do it in twenty minutes!' "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. might help us?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless quite distinctive." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "'I have heard so.' against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "What will you say?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey make me his representative both with the servants and with the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler foresight and the moral retrogression?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Munro.' scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Yes?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "I have come for advice." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "None." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship I nodded to show that I had heard. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Where, then, is my wife?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have foot. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg remarked. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a dear old homesteads?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "I came to find a friend." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his front of the hall door has given its name to the place. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of bachelor.' "Yes." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, just called myself is not exactly my own." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. three of the beryls in it, was missing. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be and I shall be with you presently." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, some place of shelter and let the county police know what has anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Then how many are there?" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up becomes even more simple." "It looks newer than the other things?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Yes. He waved his hands." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. the morning and make my own way in the world.' Pope's Court. him to be an active member of the medical profession." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance entirely devoid of interest." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a stalked out of the room. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "I cannot imagine."