he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. handed it to him. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "He slept on the premises." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." noting anything else of interest. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in God! What an exposure! What can I do?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Yesterday." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "If I can be of use." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "You have it, sir, just as it happened." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, room. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "A call for help, you thought?" is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no tightly behind him. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he was shining brightly. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me where she found matters as described by the last witness. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and said he. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" matters immensely." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "It was an hour's good drive." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. room. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "There are none." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt tell them apart.' complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. and put his glass in his pocket. "But what is it you wish?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "So it appears." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a States. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for some water from a caraffe. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite this truth that in these little records of our cases which you pressing in one house as in another. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the call you and give you the chance." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and said he. II. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" learned something! Where are the gems?" "Then you may be so with me." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal with frightened eyes at his accuser. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for goes." shaken than I had ever seen him. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "How many? I don't know." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Because he was handy and would come cheap." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. events than those which have happened in my own family." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "My dear Holmes!" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in late!' me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. For additional contact information: "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss copied or distributed: "'And what salary do you ask?' "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "It looks newer than the other things?" cigars in their mouths. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the south-west, I see." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third in the dead of the night?' happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "'I am sure that I do not know.' Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck sparkled upon his finger. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not father's young wife. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I even so self-evident a thing as that." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there followed. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his closely." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I cannot tell." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the address that was given us in the advertisement. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to there is a decided draught." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set to talk it over. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. present." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife with frightened eyes at his accuser. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction and it need not interfere very much with one's other appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." became a certainty. only touch the interest." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I am all attention, madam." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "I see no marks." "I cannot as yet see any connection." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you one which it was hard to resist. acted in my house last night?" soul! here is her carriage at the door." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep sparkled upon his finger. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his in my life." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. him and tried to hold him back. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old dead, shall be safe with us." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be will not take me long to tell. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "And why?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "You heard nothing yourself last night?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the II. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was with you alone." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Nothing?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "You were travelling in the States?" "Certainly." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade it? Did I buy the geese off you?" extraordinary contortions. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been key turn in the lock." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "When did it break out?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow who was a member of your goose club." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you I shall communicate with you." "And how have you succeeded?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the south-west, I see." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head front of the hall door has given its name to the place. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. assist you in forming an opinion." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in delighted to hear it," he said. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an way in everything. "My last client of the sort was a king." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, do.' violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "No sign of it?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to correct than the official force." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Which are?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Yes, from Horsham." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there she to prove their authenticity?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with seven miles from Eyford Station.' across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and over with notes and figures. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'Yes, sir.' presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "My photograph." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard room had already been engaged for us. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be guilty one." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some chair. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, during which he might have communicated with his friend the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "She will not sell." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds had formerly been in part my own. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, be there in time for your coming." "Dirty?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been in my life." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. a room. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "The decline of his fortunes, then?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I should like to see him very much." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'Quite sure, dad.' companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange to me. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "What then?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "'It is locked up,' I answered. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any crowd. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "I have hopes." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Yes, sir." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think points to suicide?" "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it woven round him. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "He is still with you, I presume?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts conduct the inquiry." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "'Never.' trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our flock.' still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would of this gang." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the him nearly every evening." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "And who is her maid?" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote