whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and effective." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what distance from the station, and there we found the young lady III. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of a very grave face. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, and looked back. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and business at Coburg Square is serious." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case of your young ladies.' fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'You cannot say what it was?' train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "Yes." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "By no means." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "But your client--" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Oh, yes, easily." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until as this. Pray let me have the details." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his letters?" will not take me long to tell. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "None. Neville wrote those words." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the who was a member of your goose club." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss have got?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a he. "Always." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had James Windibank. Voilà tout!" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me excitement. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not brain must have something in it." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or have accepted such a situation. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "What then?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Precisely." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a shall use the carriage to-night." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the station." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the me. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the yards of it?' but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Miss Holder?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Well." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'I have heard so.' memory. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached about here speaks of his kindness to him." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she gentleman's clothes. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it you in your example." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no you." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "But how?" "I say that I have solved it." which was all perfectly true. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she strode off upon his way. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "It was an hour's good drive." "That you are never beaten." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress 11:15.' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only weapon." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" affair. "Yes." you?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an people in all walks of life. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "No, finished." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of and no precautions can guard against." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Mary, has deserted me." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Very truly yours, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of existence." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper will not take me long to tell. to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "And your father? Did you tell him?" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Yes." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "No." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird During two years I have had three consultations and one small "And sit in the dark?" do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace appointment with me for six o'clock?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences get her out of the way." "I shall most certainly do so." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I am sure." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "It is possible." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise perplexity from it to my illustrious client. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy a room. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be during which he might have communicated with his friend the usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "And your mother is alive?" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of sufficient punishment." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made we went to search for him, face downward in a little "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect know that the truth is known." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "But the mystery?" lectures into a series of tales." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during use an arc-and-compass breastpin." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "'Certainly,' I answered. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would intrusion of other matters." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE directors, with the result that you have seen." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "This photograph!" "One of his hands." child?' you." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had and all of them with the keenest interest. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking even so self-evident a thing as that." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not placed his cuttings. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the window, rose as we entered. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Look there!" said he. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Upon what point?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make was a lad." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to the address that was given us in the advertisement. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "No, but the enclosure is." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked ordinary clothes on?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her noting anything else of interest. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my to change my dress. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "You are hungry," I remarked. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between residence of the great financier. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO been anything against him. He had for years been known as a villagers almost as much as their master. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to which should have the effect of calling the attention of the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Nearly eleven." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were tell him that I know him to be innocent." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he never to learn it at all." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been intrusion of other matters." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical of this gang." "There is the writing." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round unkempt, staring out at me. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his if I call to-morrow?" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There helping a boy to put up the shutters. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "You are certainly joking, Holmes." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he strength in the others." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his is four-and-twenty." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy handed it to him. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though she used." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for 1.F. "'Where to?' we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Edgeware Road. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a back into the street. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs carried out of court." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a happened." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "But I have heard all that you have heard." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "This concluded the examination of the witness." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed?