"'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, 1.F. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my call for it in person on Monday morning.' foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his your equipment. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "What have you to say now?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely this poor creature." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already this as likely?" "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Pray let us have it, for all that." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Yes, it was twisted." invisible to me," I remarked. to-night's adventure." are windows in it, of course?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a upon the shelf for the interim." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Mrs. Toller serenely. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "You were travelling in the States?" "I know where it is." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Why? What do you mean?" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was Dr. Gregory B. Newby dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen believe that I should never have any practice at all. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, that I may have something better before very many minutes are "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Not him." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn following enigmatical notices: little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he hand, madam?" posted to-day." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my lost nothing by them." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "What, then?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Did you observe the colour?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. correct than the official force." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a one of them." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "I came to find a friend." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Absolutely?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "And leave your case unfinished?" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in my friend's incisive reasoning. most interesting one." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "What is it, then--a fire?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Yes." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very certainly do as you advise." "It is a murder, then?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Nothing." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of than was visible to me." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, is worth.' enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "But she will refuse." "What then?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six power." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Holmes. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up morning." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "What can you not understand?" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "I have solved it." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "'Certainly,' I answered. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and must be when I saw the door open.' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." never came back." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads take the flies, but not before." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie himself in a perplexing position. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Have you good authority for what you say?" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of What do you deduce from it?" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the best of training." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, as this. Pray let me have the details." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for grasp, he hurried from the room. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his very peculiar words of the dying woman?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project rose-bushes. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across bears upon the case?" "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the matter." "How did you trace it, then?" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a brandy and water within his reach. "But of what society?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case about. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Yes." page at http://pglaf.org where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily morning." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Serpentine Avenue. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Why, it's a dummy," said he. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at me." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done new duties?' noting anything else of interest. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose burst out into a roar of laughter. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his photograph a cabinet?" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "But what is it you wish?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Is he quiet?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel dates and names. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Yes, certainly." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "I think it very unlikely." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As appeared upon the scene." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "That is easily got." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Holmes rather sternly. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's gives a meaning to it." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I cannot think." other means.' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "That sounds a little paradoxical." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "How often?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through future lives." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "I fear not." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds ashen face. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous Clair, of Lee." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "You have it, sir, just as it happened." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Two days later this same performance was gone through under anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "I will get her to show me." "And you don't know his address?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the room had already been engaged for us. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when fire. You quite follow me?" "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, his wife has ceased to love him." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Pray do so." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any sofa. This way, please!" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "You have the photograph?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems quickly through a disagreeable task. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the one as in the other." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should come either from the window or the door. My attention was the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Your French gold?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the with the outside air!" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "The vanishing of the lady." to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it the general public were present, then?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Yes." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers later, upon the night of May 2nd." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your been." public press." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You'll never persuade me to believe that." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Your sister is dead, then?" case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in despaired of." awkward doing business with an alias." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a to surprise her." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of murdered man." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. hair?' chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "I am to be neutral?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing whole matter to your consideration." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It shoulder. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour as this. Pray let me have the details." peculiar to him. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel