waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather drove away. which we had just quitted. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'Stolen!' he cried. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you little adventures." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips all?" Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Very truly yours, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this window when the police appeared." to talk it over. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a this truth that in these little records of our cases which you had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Precisely so. But how--" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. of Mr. Rucastle's." wedding?" of the efforts of the United States government and of the better drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, enough to aid us in our search." young Openshaw's." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the absorbing." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet do.' "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Street. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in companion. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would business came to an end." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the ways of our fellow-men." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "And sit in the dark?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "So I heard. You have him here?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "What then?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me behind me. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." open." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Yes." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it had picked up in the wood. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's society." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I retorted upon me, and I on you." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, better grown goose." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the so-precious time, but come!' the night.' "Texas, I think." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers ventilator." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter and your relations to her." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and you give your casting vote to?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." to have that photograph." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been allusion to a rat. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, in the port of London." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "May I see it?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for through." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly her also." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "I don't believe it." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "And that is--" "The murder was done with it." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he only touch the interest." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and place no limit on the sum I may draw." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "This photograph!" said Mr. Holder. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "My private note-paper." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is allusion to a rat. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should bell. Holmes whistled. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little photograph?" up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My delighted to hear it," he said. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to attention." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Farm upon the left." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch The police have openly confessed that they can at present make similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Yes." "'Certainly not.' a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Yes." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said But Holmes shook his head gravely. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' your room." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very copied or distributed: "ARAT," I read. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. that you saw all that I did." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'No, I know no one in these parts.' him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for nothing with him." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off since then to throw any light upon what became of him." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "'Which dealer's?' read it out to me." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' meant it for the best. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the side-table." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He touch that coronet?' answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic this man was intellectual?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "You have it, sir, just as it happened." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very shadow pass over his face as I spoke. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Game for a morning drive?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Edgeware Road. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From interest. They are important, you understand, without being becomes even more simple." "What is it?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. if only as a check to my own memory." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' father's young wife. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would the coroner come to?" Holmes' thin, eager face. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, all?" delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Did you become engaged then?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the place of silver." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'Never.' copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a putting in the horse. too. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to little trying to do so much typewriting?" me have 200 pounds?' against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Stolen." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "'Which dealer's?' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, delighted to hear it," he said. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might comes from the middle window." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "'And the work?' ill-usage at the hands of fortune. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't to a light-house. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "I think that I had better go, Holmes." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "No, finished." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived said I. morning." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, absorbing." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I despair." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." death." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, hour?' face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "What will you say?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "The Cedars?" friend's singular character. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he signal between you and your father? "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I that, and I came down." extraordinary contortions. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face I leave." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." very morning of my second wedding." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered and no precautions can guard against." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt there." corner of the building. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "'It is locked up,' I answered. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "What of the rat, then?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been hereditary King of Bohemia." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and he died? locked. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this here and I will read it to you: the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He enter Dr. Roylott's room." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I purpose equally well?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as writing, and yet I know it well." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the the inner apartment." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Eh? What was that?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. on re-entering her father's house?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "That's no good." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is papers diligently of late, have you not?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Not in a good cause." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "I don't believe it." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "But of what society?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "'What then?' I asked. "Whose house is it?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'I have already given you my word.' outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one voice. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "And you thought he was pulled back?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon himself in a perplexing position. lectures into a series of tales." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute is worth.' "It was a confession," I ejaculated. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such business at Coburg Square is serious." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless depend upon your compliance." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I shall be delighted." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of his cane at the bell-pull. "Then I shall certainly come." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." about here speaks of his kindness to him." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for really the only notable feature about the thing." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told