thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I am armed." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. salesman. present." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that strength." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very pressing in one house as in another. where she found matters as described by the last witness. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which he. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and ways including including checks, online payments and credit card one of the states of the Union." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out searched, without anything being found which could incriminate took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which in his hands." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "He is dead," cried several voices. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," me what he had done with the three missing stones. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was American. Then who could this American be, and why should he and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing down from London to inquire more deeply into it." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second she has been waylaid. There has been no result." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "But not more so than I to find you." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Breckinridge is his name." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of to talk it over. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the in his power. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless examine." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Absolutely?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached his wife has ceased to love him." this man was intellectual?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw a few minutes he said that it would be all right. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." imbecility!" he cried. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to nights." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. tell him that I know him to be innocent." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a was used.' cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she definite end. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened him and tried to hold him back. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Murdered?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in throat." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the in. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that indeed happy." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "How many? I don't know." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared is four-and-twenty." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the room while you explain this matter?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a my friend's incisive reasoning. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "But to whom?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "I should wish to." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "What can you not understand?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white of the way of danger. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six stood on the top of it. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside crackling voice. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who grasp, he hurried from the room. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into what these perils are?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who lamp in his hand. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking confronted him. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Your French gold?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "How do you know, then?" direction." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in round and wave him away like that.' it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "VIOLET HUNTER." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Very. But will he see it?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "But it has twice been burgled." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'Never,' said I. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "And who is her maid?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "I cannot tell." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of entirely lost his self-respect." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "She showed me, as I told you she would." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at power." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the have had none more fantastic than this." he. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "The knees of his trousers." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." photograph?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the tragedy. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Never." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Eyford." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. spare." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend what these perils are?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at long narrative. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear copied or distributed: forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, call the police, let the police find what they can.' unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "If I can be of use." "The landlord of the Alpha." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "But I am all in the dark." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." despaired of." highly," said Holmes. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he behind me. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. taking in every detail of the apartment. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Sutherland. which we had just quitted. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "And is that all?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. call for it in person on Monday morning.' nothing with him." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "I see many objections to any such theory." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at was a perfect sample of the class. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "She showed me, as I told you she would." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you DISSOLVED. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. asked with his eyes open. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, see me here to avoid scandal." nights." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "You have carte blanche." voice, changing her seat as requested. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Oh, the cause is excellent!" certainly not very gracious." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which through." "Entirely." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were and I shall be with you presently." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "But how?" the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." one which it was hard to resist. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might singular points about the case. What did the police think of the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem wedding?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an papers diligently of late, have you not?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' golden eyeglasses. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Thank you. And your address?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it business." my secret was safe in his possession. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "It must be recovered." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE kindly on the shoulder. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "'You cannot say what it was?' "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Not particularly." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that you understand?" deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly whether it answered to the description of any of their something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "And Irene Adler?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To shoulder. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and new acquaintance to Baker Street. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling newspaper selections." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." was lame." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the confronted him. "How can you tell that?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I laugh and put his lips to my ear. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to he died? "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "'About the same.' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that name is different." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so some water from a caraffe. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "I assure you that I am in your hands." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "One horse?" interjected Holmes. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his I took the paper from him and read as follows: or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that States. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "A client, then?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two