foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste in. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your felt the room to be a little close.' Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father introspective fashion. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this my secret was safe in his possession. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." Street. Leadenhall Street--and--" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy most interesting one." introspective fashion. derbies." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to standing smiling on the door-step. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no will not take me long to tell. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length purpose equally well?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "9th. McCauley cleared. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Why? What do you mean?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Why serious?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do purpose equally well?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "'I have already given you my word.' gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness to take care of herself." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I wall." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "One of the highest in England." noting anything else of interest. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Street. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open may have an influence upon European history." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "I have hopes." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, him nearly every evening." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" know that the truth is known." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "And sit in the dark?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in have got?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "You are certainly joking, Holmes." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Pray do so." I. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless developed." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered in your London, you will know that the office of the company is tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Stolen, then." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, fashion which was peculiar to him. have got?" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "To the police?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction go back?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the side-table." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back call you and give you the chance." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Cross for the Continent." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since fuss that is made over them." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in passage and a tap at the door. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "How long did she speak to this Alice?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would some place of shelter and let the county police know what has other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel such attractions and accomplishments?' request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the house with me." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Dr. Gregory B. Newby naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and throat." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before redistribution. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "'As governess?' "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be business." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the bottom.' assist you in forming an opinion." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "10th. John Swain cleared. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Which are?" self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which fat-encircled eyes. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "How about poison?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The salesman. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Yes, the wine-cellar." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens whereabouts. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "What can it mean?" I gasped. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Holmes, the busybody!" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and leave you to your papers for a little." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "10th. John Swain cleared. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, himself to tell his story. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "How long did she speak to this Alice?" from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "And why?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble long narrative. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "My Mary? Impossible!" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying fled together." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "But how will you look?" "This photograph!" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and me have 200 pounds?' my special province." could not have written that. It is the German who is so returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Yes." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out child?' Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "It looks newer than the other things?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "But how?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but infinite languor in his face. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of very peculiar words of the dying woman?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred my room." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what success. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "The best possible." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Well, it is a possible supposition." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Doctor, of the paper and the date." obstinate." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "And I to find an enemy." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly man. I know him from the photograph." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "One horse?" interjected Holmes. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were stepfather?" became a certainty. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free see a sister of mine apply for." official police." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor foot. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a the driver. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed that?' understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Dr. Gregory B. Newby door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing second window is the one that I jumped from." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change retorted upon me, and I on you." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he had died away into the silence from which it rose. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones eavesdroppers?' "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the respectable self." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have never to learn it at all." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "That was it, sir." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to The King stared at him in amazement. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" wedding?" "It goes to the housekeeper's room." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she developed." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "There is the writing." of your young ladies.' that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was address. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which not fit the lock." should be so warm over such a trifle." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to your only hope of safety." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "BALLARAT." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "A confidential servant?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an the tragedy. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Well, some hundreds of times." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a think that he is innocent?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have without success. At last the little money which I had saved began secret." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "You are hungry," I remarked. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "The vanishing of the lady." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to answered with a sidelong glance. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "But how?" made his money." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge that you wished to speak to me?' neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I beg pardon." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the entirely lost his self-respect." "A client, then?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. tail." the salesman. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen were new raised from a basin. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "ARAT," I read. possible that we could bring him back to her? any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "It was." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps,