brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their It was close upon four before the door opened, and a turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to voice. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and standing smiling on the door-step. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional fear." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate back alive. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Yesterday." did not hear it also.' you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to him and tried to hold him back. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the events than those which have happened in my own family." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and there in twenty minutes." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had even of instruction." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I orange pips. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that to-night's adventure." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Well, but China?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Yes, he did." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. and no precautions can guard against." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. was a loud and authoritative tap. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so woman." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. situation." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin Sutherland. it with his own hands." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we companion quietly. leaning back in his chair. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings door?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking already referred to. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes me. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." redistribution. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and until night should bring an explanation. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. have established a very serious case against the son of the "Ten will be early enough." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and in the hope of finding them." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I newspaper selections." "What then?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Do you go out much in society?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew such person." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the sooner or later she must fall a victim. "The rest you will leave in our hands." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the know that the truth is known." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and appeal." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the for and were ordered to this address. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate way in everything. cup of tea. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my and prosperity to your house. Good-night." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very furiously. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Farm upon the left." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "But he might be a bachelor." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and speckled band?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the coronet in his hands?" glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Well, some hundreds of times." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "The gentleman I describe." "ARAT," I read. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "He might." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial the driver. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both whereabouts. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of held up the lantern and gazed about him. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I never came back." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting upon an income of about 60 pounds." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "I say that I have solved it." "If so, much may have happened between." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen the coroner come to?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Certainly not.' jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate gbnewby@pglaf.org "I was mad--insane." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped have been better. It is all right." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "'Where to?' people don't know." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely companion imperturbably. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the his grey eyes. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up just called myself is not exactly my own." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he disturbance in my wife." that he has suffered." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Yes." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the already been minutely examined." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "This photograph!" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." what these perils are?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he matters immensely." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "'Yes, sir.' "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I asked with his eyes open. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Frequently." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air and no precautions can guard against." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Quite so. She has her freedom." particular state visit http://pglaf.org Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added other lovers by making love himself." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." true." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get asked. have not had my rubber." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow generous with you in money matters.' which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in weighed down with some great anxiety. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak remarked. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord third from London." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the attention." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great chill to my heart. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very that you saw all that I did." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and voice. roused himself from his reverie. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk woven round him. had formerly been in part my own. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be I nodded to show that I had heard. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One since then to throw any light upon what became of him." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the six. Come in!" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, throat." awaited us upon the table. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation and the colonel ushered me in. Count Von Kramm." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make tell me that you intended to go into harness." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. himself. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "And Miss Sutherland?" there." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "It is half-past ten now." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "I am sure." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her have not had my rubber." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "What! a murderous attack?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty unprofitable." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' you." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his girl said." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice congratulate you again." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. sooner or later she must fall a victim. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a was shining brightly. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. easy-going way." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "What then?" generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" at home. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Thank you. And your address?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, hurried away. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "What! You do not mean bodies?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic to Leatherhead. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his words came to my lips. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "How about poison?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "But how did you gain them?" "Have you her photograph?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "But how will you look?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, the best of training." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or murdered man." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of