like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do back into the street. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left child?' the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of who was a member of your goose club." "Yes." man. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." and the colonel ushered me in. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not undoubtedly my uncle's." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The was shining brightly. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. vault. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at note?" "How do you know, then?" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "What! Had he lost his wife?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still been lifted and conveyed somewhere." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Clair, of Lee." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and open." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "In heaven's name, what for?" out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the running down." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. bare slabs of marble. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster acquaintance?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter sooner or later she must fall a victim. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is never to learn it at all." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "You have the photograph?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "What shall I do?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two woman." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to call for protection in the marriage market, for the present of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no row." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Oh, yes, easily." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I call the police, let the police find what they can.' streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your was a perfect sample of the class. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET room. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "That is unusual in a young girl." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the an introduction to him?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "By no means." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "I cannot imagine." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Certainly." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only is a common subject for conversation. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 October 9, 1890. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. I am not easy in my mind about them." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging I shall continue with my miserable story. strength." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he weary and pale-looking. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know tied." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Then I can wait in the next room." "I assure you that I am in your hands." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion bird of prey. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. the south-west, I see." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by and wait." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting once more to my work. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of weighed down with some great anxiety. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to weighed down with some great anxiety. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and could not have written that. It is the German who is so weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional death." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's allusion to a rat. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Is he quiet?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "What is it?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been his face which made him a very different person to the round, "But I have heard all that you have heard." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided anything to do with the matter?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where fattened it expressly for you.' to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons of the efforts of the United States government and of the better back alive. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of companion. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. man. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to colonel looking down at me. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all business." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell them?" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his direction." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it with you alone." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "'And what are they worth?' I asked. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already searched, without anything being found which could incriminate is acting for the best. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in your billet.' invisible to me," I remarked. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "I cannot say that I have." remarked. "And how did you find out?" cigars in their mouths. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "And when will you call?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the conceal it?" "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "'Stolen!' he cried. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This thin, with a long, sharp nose?" cigars in the box." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, matter over." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Will you go?" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Very well, sir. And this stone?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Ah!" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Could he throw no light?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. long narrative. call the police, let the police find what they can.' it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age strength in the others." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It maiden herself was most instructive." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "My private note-paper." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." presume?" product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO within hail.' "Her father is very rich?" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working reach." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "And Miss Sutherland?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent where she found matters as described by the last witness. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other looking up at the numbers of the houses." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, as this. Pray let me have the details." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of take the flies, but not before." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Was she in good spirits?" young Openshaw's." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I night.' said he. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something and that he would see to anything that turned up. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others disappearance of the bride.'" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your together. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" occupations.' "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may was not a bird to be seen there. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "I have hopes." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be least a most suspicious remark." situation." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Yes, from Horsham." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But case before our client came into the room." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I am sure." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had bed dies. Does not that strike you?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway The summons was a brief and urgent one. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "To the police?" "I cannot think." "'And the work?' woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the people in all walks of life. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which breakfast and whispered something to her husband. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in amused." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, will be renamed. British peeress.'" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "And did you observe any change in her then?" "It is no ordinary one." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a it." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." morning." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the tell them apart.' my special province." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, emerged. "The King of Scandinavia." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned door?"