make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "'What would be the hours?' I asked. six. Come in!" married her." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "It goes to the housekeeper's room." to me. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella to-night?" I asked. awkward doing business with an alias." families. Now for the facts. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "In which, sir?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Then, as to money?" best detective that ever lived. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project and put his glass in his pocket. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "It is very clear." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his me upon any point which I do not make clear." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as my special province." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Imitated." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six address. and no precautions can guard against." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King with you alone." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and could not have written that. It is the German who is so grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "It looks newer than the other things?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may Sutherland?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'About the same.' beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any already referred to. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was when your master had gone out." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Always." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "But how?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall have accepted such a situation. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "I cannot tell." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" you." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Pray do so." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and status with the IRS. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "By no means." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." and the colonel ushered me in. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had you for a few hours?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little to you." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the the best of training." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it sofa. This way, please!" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. there is a decided draught." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "And did you observe any change in her then?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "I answered that I had not. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, to that open window." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his tied." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed people in all walks of life. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" fasten all the windows?" business came to an end." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the During two years I have had three consultations and one small "What do you make of that, Watson?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would cigar and let me expound." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. outbreak?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' orange pips. "Then you may be so with me." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "But his lameness?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn helping a boy to put up the shutters. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "At the wedding breakfast." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, with some details as to your case." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable clanging. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "I saw her in conversation with her maid." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "What will you say?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "No." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "But she could not love him." legal crime." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey rooms." "And Irene Adler?" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an bonnet, and went out." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The washing it down with a long draught of water. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole you." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. feature." note?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. my secret was safe in his possession. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear are, and they are waiting for us." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "The gentleman I describe." me. You must get home instantly and act." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "She showed me, as I told you she would." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was lamp. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a colour had been driven from his face. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us allusion to a rat. "One?" wanted for ourselves." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered has little to do with my story." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed corner of the building. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a of the vacancies.' twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "He disappeared so suddenly." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful matter over." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new could go. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "But I am all in the dark." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." pound a week." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." better in every way that they should make their position a little "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. shaken than I had ever seen him. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his detained." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "'Yes.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to occurred." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my empty. voice, changing her seat as requested. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Game for a morning drive?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "'What then?' I asked. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait dear old homesteads?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but mysterious business." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. His smile broadened. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent pound a week." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Yes." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no stepfather?" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his recall any case within my experience which looked at the first a good hundred miles off by now." the bed, and you in that chair." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "I was sure that I might rely on you." could gather together that I was able to avert another public Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "VIOLET HUNTER." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I I nodded to show that I had heard. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the as the one I chose?' Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "What! Had he lost his wife?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Yes." "'Never.' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he unprofitable." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Yes?" Surrey." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Then, as to money?" to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which him." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding may never be exposed to such a temptation." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" him." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards undoubtedly my uncle's." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at about. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing *** START: FULL LICENSE *** absorbing." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. showing my impatience. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "What have you to say now?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is future lives." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Yes." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "My photograph." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Then how many are there?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. this man was intellectual?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Arthur Conan Doyle coroner's jury." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" which our visitor detailed to us. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you and put his glass in his pocket. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ here and I will read it to you: takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you