"He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, License. You must require such a user to return or fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "But how?" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Then you may entirely rely on me." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop cheerful." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had begun to whiten, even as mine has." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "So it appears." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some papers must be those that are destroyed.' 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm carriage. It was a chestnut." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" that?' midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. it were putty." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "By all means." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy open." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Dr. Becher's." "'And what salary do you ask?' pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a for and were ordered to this address. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and your only hope of safety." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "My dear Holmes!" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my key turn in the lock." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his as yours." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. is four-and-twenty." your Highness to the police-station?" have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a if she died from some sudden fright." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "But his left-handedness." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and mystery may be cleared along those lines." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and main points of my analysis." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all both be extremely obliged.' another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "What then?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. despaired of." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "And how?" who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Where did he live, then?" nonsense.' in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "ARAT," I read. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "I am still in the dark." "Certainly." "Yes, all." it were putty." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "I am all attention, madam." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" problems help me to do so." "An accident, I presume?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "It looks newer than the other things?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own to Leatherhead. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to 1.E.9. mystery may be cleared along those lines." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many one of the states of the Union." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "I saw her in conversation with her maid." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without became a certainty. have not had my rubber." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of arms and began to sob in a high treble key. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "But how did you gain them?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be of the efforts of the United States government and of the better but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "But who is he?" "Deserted you?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was Does that suggest anything?" "None." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has as noiselessly as she had come. you." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me of a light. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third putting in the horse. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "It may not come to that," said Holmes. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she I nodded to show that I had heard. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Ah, but I was recommended to you." direction." Holmes. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Very murderous indeed." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of plantation.' rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "I say it is." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge thin, with a long, sharp nose?" name is different." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "What do you make of that, Watson?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Of what?" thin legs towards the fire. used to be." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, out of this horrible affair." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he instituted." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should village inn over there?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "By no means." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded was shining brightly. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" was it brought him the coronet? "Married! When?" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "'What are you doing there?' he asked. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down it. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, to change my dress. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if breakfast?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must him to be an active member of the medical profession." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "That is it on the dressing-table." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "'What, the red-headed man?' waste of energy." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "I answered that I had not. "She will not sell." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "What can you not understand?" I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "So I heard. You have him here?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I think that any burglar could have done. "I cannot think." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it vague figure huddled up in the darkness. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he meant it for the best. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, back alive. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Ten will be early enough." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" lost nothing by them." this remarkable episode. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to was a perfect sample of the class. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "It is possible." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his been lifted and conveyed somewhere." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Quite so." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal companion quietly. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." works. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by lectures into a series of tales." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "And I say east," said my patient. "'Yes, sir.' open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Pray do so." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no 1.E.9. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "His face fell immediately. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the guilty parties." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me distinguish the words: "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He felt the room to be a little close.' them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself conceal it?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "I was afraid that you were engaged." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward 1.F. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "And now?" I asked. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the said he. States. "No, finished." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of drawing your inferences." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Literary Archive Foundation been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous been deceived." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Then, how do you know?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." been." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever careless servant girl?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I to have that photograph." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically During two years I have had three consultations and one small hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the an introduction to him?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the best of training." of Fenchurch Street." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he observed. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "I never have." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated to that open window." "I cannot say that I have." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Holmes, the busybody!" so far?" present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "But you have hopes?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "'Ample.' something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Ample." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making one of the states of the Union." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she