silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to generous with you in money matters.' "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to fire. You quite follow me?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can to-night?' "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a to take care of herself." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "The decline of his fortunes, then?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at of this gang." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Yes, it would be as well." is so. I know all about McCarthy." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is his knees, staring into the fire. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Holmes, the busybody!" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" said I. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that delighted to hear it," he said. directly by questioning you." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which delighted to hear it," he said. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Absolutely?" daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and interest. They are important, you understand, without being already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, narrative." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "The vanishing of the lady." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, furiously. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "And now?" He raised his hand. Countess of Morcar's?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or success. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "'Stolen!' he cried. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads as the one I chose?' "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. room?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which attention." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "What do you make of that, Watson?" 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and yards of it?' so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "She told me to ask you." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from families. Now for the facts. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "No good news?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "What will you do, then?" generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from fire. You quite follow me?" cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the will not take me long to tell. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and happened." "It is possible." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "How about poison?" "I see no marks." to a light-house. "Perhaps we may make them less so." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the absorbing." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? window when the police appeared." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Then you may entirely rely on me." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Not social, then?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best awaited us upon the table. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "It is possible." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "And how have you succeeded?" the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its his eyes and forehead. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want conceal it?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Married! When?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Yes, he did." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you spare." "And that is--" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found him to be an active member of the medical profession." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to it were putty." you." chance at all." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical system of imprisonment?" round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Yes, sir." that towards the blaze. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim fire. You quite follow me?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "None." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "He is dead," cried several voices. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious dramatic, in fact." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would test if we have an answer to our advertisement." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a them?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Holmes, the busybody!" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any go from here to the Strand." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Yes, the wine-cellar." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a seem to you to be relevant or not." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "No, finished." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet like gravel from a pit.' house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked your only hope of safety." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I do." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "By no means." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself point in the dark hollow of his hand. Chief Executive and Director "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind better grown goose." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "No, I am descending." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "At what time?" possible that we could bring him back to her? circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "His face fell immediately. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and shall probably return to London by the evening train." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling system of imprisonment?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Very truly yours, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first just called myself is not exactly my own." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to time." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Holmes." "At what time?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a husband's writing, madam." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "I shall be delighted." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "So I have heard." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow you for a few hours?" at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few any more." kindly on the shoulder. "A call for help, you thought?" then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of him to be an active member of the medical profession." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "I was certainly surprised to find you there." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both where Mr. Fordham shows you.' late!' convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' himself to hunt down. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." go--none." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Nothing." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Pool. hand, madam?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, brain must have something in it." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the only touch the interest." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has I nodded again. "And who is her maid?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "She walked into the breakfast-room." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start problems help me to do so." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "And how?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to it." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story enter Dr. Roylott's room." emerged. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may tell them apart.' you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "That is not always so easy." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I the morning and make my own way in the world.' flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," morning." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Foundation round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the know that the truth is known." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at who was a member of your goose club." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Stolen." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "I will do it." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I was a loud and authoritative tap. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced hands. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I shall most certainly do so." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Did your wife hear all this?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "He said that you could solve anything." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "How are you getting on?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged read over the extraordinary announcement. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear affection." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. cheerful." delighted to hear it," he said. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Yes." "Yes. He waved his hands." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years,