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    ,! ,ADV5TURE (! ,B]YL ,CORONET4
  8,HOLMES10 SD ,I Z ,I /OOD "O MORN+ 9 \R
B[-W9D[ LOOK+ D[N ! /REET1 8"H IS A MADMAN
-+ AL;G4 ,X SEEMS R SAD T 8 RELATIVES %D
ALL[ HM 6-E \ AL"O40
  ,MY FR ROSE LAZILY F 8 >M*AIR & /OOD ) 8
H&S 9 ! POCKETS ( 8 DRESS+-G[N1 LOOK+ OV]
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GR.D1 %IMM]+ B"RLY 9 ! W9TRY SUN4 ,D[N !
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T "! 7 FEW] PASS5G]S ?AN USUAL4 ,9DE$1 F !
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8 LEGS4 ,Z HE RAN HE J]K$ 8 H&S UP & D[N1
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  8,:AT ON E>? C 2 ! MATT] ) HM80 ,I ASK$4
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RU2+ 8 H&S4
  8,"H80
  8,YES2 ,I R ?9K HE IS -+ 63SULT ME
PROFES.N,Y4 ,I ?9K T ,I RECOGNIZE !
SYMPTOMS4 ,HA6 DID ,I N TELL Y80 ,Z HE
SPOKE1 ! MAN1 PU6+ & BL[+1 RU%$ AT \R DOOR
& PULL$ AT \R BELL UNTIL ! :OLE H\SE
RES.D$ )! CLANG+4
  ,A FEW MO;TS LAT] HE 0 9 \R ROOM1 /
PU6+1 / GE/ICULAT+1 B ) S FIX$ A LOOK (GRIEF & DESPAIR 9 8 EYES T \R SMILES    #C
7 TURN$ 9 AN 9/ANT 6HORROR & P;Y4 ,=A :ILE
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D[N 96! EASY-*AIR &1 SITT+ 2S HM1 PATT$ 8
H& & *ATT$ ) HM 9 ! EASY1 SOO?+ T"OS : HE
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  8,Y H -E 6ME 6TELL YR /ORY1 H Y N80 SD
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  8,NO D\BT Y ?9K ME MAD80 SD HE4
  8,I SEE T Y H _H "S GRT TR\#10 RESPOND$
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  8,GOD "KS ,I H6-A TR\# : IS 5 6UNS1T MY
R1SON1 S SU45 & S T]RI# IS X4 ,PUBLIC4GRACE ,I MI<T H FAC$1 AL? ,I AM A      #D
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,PRIVATE A6LIC;N AL IS ! LOT ( E MAN2 B !
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6%AKE MY V S\L4 ,2SS1 X IS N ,I AL"O4 ,! V
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  8,PRAY -POSE YRF1 SIR10 SD ,HOLMES1 8&
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T HAS 2FALL5 Y40
  8,MY "N10 ANSW]$ \R VISITOR1 8IS
PROBABLY FAMILI> 6YR E>S4 ,I AM ,ALEX&]
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/ORY4
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  8,X IS1 ( C\RSE1 WELL "KN 6Y T 9 A
SU3ESS;L BANK+ BUSI;S Z M* DEP5DS ^U \R 2+
A# 6F9D REMUN]ATIVE 9VE/;TS = \R FUNDS Z
^U \R 9CR1S+ \R 3NEC;N &! NUMB] ( \R
DEPOSITORS4 ,"O ( \R MO/ LUCRATIVE M1NS (
LAY+ \ M"OY IS 9 ! %APE ( LOANS1 ": !
SECUR;Y IS UNIMP1*A#4 ,WE H D"O A GD D1L 9
? DIREC;N DUR+ ! LA/ FEW YE>S1 & "! >E _M
NO# FAMILIES 6:OM WE H ADV.ED L>GE SUMS ^U
! SECUR;Y ( _! PICTURES1 LIBR>IES1 OR
PLATE4
  8,YE/]"D MORN+ ,I 0 S1T$ 9 MY (FICE AT !
BANK :5 A C>D 0 BR"\ 9 6ME 0"O (! CL]KS4
,I />T$ :5 ,I SAW ! "N1 = X 0 T ( N"O O!R
?AN-WELL1 P]H EV5 6Y ,I _H BETT] SAY NO M
?AN T X 0 A "N : IS A H\SEHOLD ^W ALL OV]
! E>?-"O (! HI<E/1 NO#/1 MO/ EXALT$ "NS 9
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:5 HE 5T]$1 6SAY S1 B HE PLUNG$ AT ONCE
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9=M$ T Y >E 9 ! HABIT ( ADVANC+ M"OY40'
  8,8,! FIRM DOES S :5 ! SECUR;Y IS GD10'
,I ANSW]$4
  8,8,X IS ABSOLUTELY ESS5TIAL 6ME10' SD
HE1 ,8T ,I %D H ,L#EJ1JJJ AT ONCE4 ,I CD1
( C\RSE1 BORR[ S TRIFL+ A SUM T5 "TS OV] F
MY FRS1 B ,I M* PREF] 6MAKE X A MATT] (
BUSI;S & 6C>RY \ T BUSI;S MYF4 ,9 MY
POSI;N Y C R1DILY "U/& T X IS UNWISE
6PLACE "O'S SELF "U OBLIG,NS40'
  8,8,= H[ L;G1 MAY ,I ASK1 D Y WANT ?
SUM80' ,I ASK$4
  8,8,NEXT ,MON"D ,I H A L>GE SUM DUE 6ME1
& ,I % !N MO/ C]TA9LY REPAY :AT Y ADV.E1 )
:AT"E 9T]E/ Y ?9K X "R 6*>GE4 ,B X IS V
ESS5TIAL 6ME T ! M"OY %D 2 PD AT ONCE40'
  8,8,I %D 2 HAPPY 6ADV.E X )\T FUR!R
P>LEY F MY [N PRIVATE PURSE10' SD ,I1
,8W]E X N T ! /RA9 WD 2 R M ?AN X CD BE>4
,IF1 ON ! O!R H&1 ,I AM 6D X 9 ! "N (!
FIRM1 !N 9 JU/ICE 6MY "PN] ,I M/ 9SI/ T
EV5 9 YR CASE1 E BUSI;SLIKE PRECAU;N %D 2
TAK540'
  8,8,I %D M* PREF] 6H X S10' SD HE1 RAIS+UP A SQU>E1 BLACK MORO3O CASE : HE _H   #G
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,B]YL ,CORONET80'
  8,8,"O (! MO/ PRECI\S PUBLIC POSSES.NS (
! EMPIRE10' SD ,I4
  8,8,PRECISELY40' ,HE OP5$ ! CASE1 & "!1
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MAGNIFIC5T PIECE ( JEWELL]Y : HE _H "ND4
,8,"! >E ?IRTY-N9E ENORM\S B]YLS10' SD HE1
,8&! PRICE (! GOLD *AS+ IS 9CALCULA#4 ,!
L[E/ E/IMATE WD PUT ! WOR? (! CORONET AT
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  8,I TOOK ! PRECI\S CASE 96MY H&S & LOOK$
9 "S P]PLEX;Y F X 6MY ILLU/RI\S CLI5T4
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  8,8,! PROPRIETY ( MY L1V+ X4 ,Y MAY SET
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X N ABSOLUTELY C]TA9 T ,I %D 2 A# 9 F\R
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  8,8,AMPLE40'
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POSSI# PRECAU;N 2C ,I NE$ N SAY T A GRT
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62FALL X4 ,ANY 9JURY 6X WD 2 ALM Z S]I\S Z
XS -PLETE LOSS1 = "! >E NO B]YLS 9 ! _W
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  8,SEE+ T MY CLI5T 0 ANXI\S 6L1VE1 ,I SD
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6PAY OV] FIFTY ,L#AJJJ NOTES4 ,:5 ,I 0
AL"O ONCE M1 H["E1 )! PRECI\S CASE LY+ ^U
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TOO LATE 6ALT] ! MATT] N[1 S ,I LOCK$ X UP
9 MY PRIVATE SAFE & TURN$ ONCE M 6MY "W4
  8,:5 EV5+ CAME ,I FELT T X WD 2 AN
IMPRUD;E 6L1VE S PRECI\S A ?+ 9 ! (FICE 2H
ME4 ,BANK]S' SAFES _H BE5 =C$ 2F N[1 & :Y%D N M9E BE8 ,IF S1 H[ T]RI# WD 2 !     #I
POSI;N 9 : ,I %D F9D MYF6 ,I DET]M9$1
"!=E1 T =! NEXT FEW "DS ,I WD ALW C>RY !
CASE BACKW>D & =W>D ) ME1 S T X MI<T N"E 2
RE,Y \ ( MY R1*4 ,) ? 9T5;N1 ,I CALL$ A
CAB & DROVE \ 6MY H\SE AT ,/R1?AM1 C>RY+ !
JEWEL ) ME4 ,I DID N BR1! FREELY UNTIL ,I
_H TAK5 X UP/AIRS & LOCK$ X 9 ! BUR1U ( MY
DRESS+-ROOM4
  8,& N[ A ^W Z 6MY H\SEHOLD1 ,MR4
,HOLMES1 = ,I WI% Y 6?OR\<LY "U/& !
SITU,N4 ,MY GROOM & MY PAGE SLEEP \ (!
H\SE1 & MAY 2 SET ASIDE ALT4 ,I H ?REE
MAID-S]VANTS :O H BE5 ) ME A NUMB] ( YE>S
& ^: ABSOLUTE RELIABIL;Y IS Q ABV
SUSPICION4 ,ANO!R1 ,LUCY ,P>R1 ! SECOND
WAIT+-MAID1 HAS ONLY BE5 9 MY S]VICE A FEW
MON?S4 ,%E CAME ) AN EXCELL5T "*1 H["E1 &
HAS ALW GIV5 ME SATISFAC;N4 ,%E IS A V
PRETTY GIRL & HAS ATTRACT$ ADMIR]S :O H
O3A.N,Y HUNG AB ! PLACE4 ,T IS ! ONLY
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  8,S M* =! S]VANTS4 ,MY FAMILY XF IS S
SMALL T X W N TAKE ME L;G 6DESCRIBE X4 ,IAM A WID[] & H AN ONLY SON1 ,>?UR4     #AJ
,HE HAS BE5 A 4APPO9T;T 6ME1 ,MR4 ,HOLMES-
A GRIEV\S 4APPO9T;T4 ,I H NO D\BT T ,I AM
MYF 6BLAME4 ,P TELL ME T ,I H SPOIL$ HM4
,V LIKELY ,I H4 ,:5 MY DE> WIFE DI$ ,I
FELT T HE 0 ALL ,I _H 6LOVE4 ,I CD N BE>
6SEE ! SMILE FADE EV5 =A MO;T F 8 FACE4 ,I
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= BO? ( U _H ,I BE5 /]N]1 B ,I M1NT X =!
BE/4
  8,X 0 NATUR,Y MY 9T5;N T HE %D SU3E$ ME
9 MY BUSI;S1 B HE 0 N (A BUSI;S TURN4 ,HE
0 WILD1 WAYW>D1 &1 6SP1K ! TRU?1 ,I CD N
TRU/ HM 9 ! H&L+ ( L>GE SUMS ( M"OY4 ,:5
HE 0 "Y HE 2CAME A MEMB] ( AN >I/OCRATIC
CLUB1 & "!1 HAV+ *>M+ MANN]S1 HE 0 SOON !
9TIMATE (A NUMB] ( M5 ) L;G PURSES &
EXP5SIVE HABITS4 ,HE LE>N$ 6PLAY H1VILY AT
C>DS & 6SQU&] M"OY ON ! TURF1 UNTIL HE _H
AG & AG 6-E 6ME & IMPLORE ME 6GIVE HM AN
ADV.E ^U 8 ALL[.E1 T HE MI<T SETTLE 8
DEBTS ( HON\R4 ,HE TRI$ M ?AN ONCE 6BR1K
AWAY F ! DANG]\S -PANY : HE 0 KEEP+1 B EA*
"T ! 9FLU;E ( 8 FR1 ,SIR ,GEORGE
,BURNWELL1 0 5 6DRAW HM BACK AG4  8,&1 9DE$1 ,I CD N WOND] T S* A      #AA
MAN Z ,SIR ,GEORGE ,BURNWELL %D GA9 AN
9FLU;E OV] HM1 = HE HAS FREQU5TLY BR"\ HM
6MY H\SE1 & ,I H F.D MYF T ,I CD H>DLY
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,>?UR1 A MAN (! _W 6HIS F+]-TIPS1 "O :O _H
BE5 "EY":1 SE5 "EY?+1 A BRILLIANT TALK]1 &
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( HM 9 COLD BLOOD1 F> AWAY F ! GLAM\R ( 8
PRES;E1 ,I AM 3V9C$ F 8 CYNICAL SPEE* &!
LOOK : ,I H CAU<T 9 8 EYES T HE IS "O :O
%D 2 DEEPLY 4TRU/$4 ,S ,I ?9K1 & S1 TOO1
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96"*4
  8,& N[ "! IS ONLY %E 6BE DESCRIB$4 ,%E
IS MY NIECE2 B :5 MY BRO!R DI$ FIVE YE>S
AGO & LEFT H] AL"O 9 ! _W ,I ADOPT$ H]1 &
H LOOK$ ^U H] "E S9CE Z MY DAU<T]4 ,%E IS
A SUNB1M 9 MY H\SE SWEET1 LOV+1 B1UTI;L1 A
WOND];L MANAG] & H\SEKEEP]1 YET Z T5D] &
QUIET & G5TLE Z A WOMAN CD BE4 ,%E IS MY
"R H&4 ,I D N "K :AT ,I CD D )\T H]4 ,9
ONLY "O MATT] HAS %E "E G"O AG/ MY WI%ES4
,TWICE MY BOY HAS ASK$ H] 6M>RY HM1 = HE
LOVES H] DEVOT$LY1 B EA* "T %E HAS REFUS$HM4 ,I ?9K T IF ANY"O CD H DRAWN HM    #AB
96! "R PA? X WD H BE5 %E1 & T 8 M>RIAGE
MI<T H *ANG$ 8 :OLE LIFE2 B N[1 ALAS6 X IS
TOO LATE-="E TOO LATE6
  8,N[1 ,MR4 ,HOLMES1 Y "K ! P :O LIVE "U
MY RO(1 & ,I % 3T9UE ) MY MIS]A# /ORY4
  8,:5 WE 7 TAK+ C(FEE 9 ! DRAW+-ROOM T
NI<T AF D9N]1 ,I TOLD ,>?UR & ,M>Y MY
EXP]I;E1 &(! PRECI\S TR1SURE : WE _H "U \R
RO(1 SUPPRESS+ ONLY ! "N ( MY CLI5T4 ,LUCY
,P>R1 :O _H BR"\ 9 ! C(FEE1 _H1 ,I AM
SURE1 LEFT ! ROOM2 B ,I _C SWE> T ! DOOR 0
CLOS$4 ,M>Y & ,>?UR 7 M* 9T]E/$ & WI%$
6SEE ! FAM\S CORONET1 B ,I ?"\ X BETT] N
64TURB X4
  8,8,": H Y PUT X80' ASK$ ,>?UR4
  8,8,IN MY [N BUR1U40'
  8,8,WELL1 ,I HOPE 6GD;S ! H\SE WON'T 2
BURGL$ DUR+ ! NI<T10' SD HE4
  8,8,X IS LOCK$ UP10' ,I ANSW]$4
  8,8,OH1 ANY OLD KEY W FIT T BUR1U4 ,:5
,I 0 A "Y/] ,I H OP5$ X MYF )! KEY (! BOX-
ROOM CUPBO>D40'
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  8,8,LOOK "H1 DAD10' SD HE ) 8 EYES CA/
D[N1 ,8C Y LET ME H ,L#BJJ80'
  8,8,NO1 ,I _C60' ,I ANSW]$ %>PLY4 ,8,I H
BE5 F> TOO G5]\S ) Y 9 M"OY MATT]S40'
  8,8,Y H BE5 V K9D10' SD HE1 ,8B ,I M/ H
? M"OY1 OR ELSE ,I C N"E %[ MY FACE 9SIDE
! CLUB AG40'
  8,8,&A V GD ?+1 TOO60' ,I CRI$4
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M/ RAISE ! M"OY 9 "S WAY1 & IF Y W N LET
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  8,I 0 V ANGRY1 = ? 0 ! ?IRD DEM& DUR+ !
MON?4 ,8,Y % N H A F>?+ F ME10' CRI$1 ON :
HE B[$ & LEFT ! ROOM )\T ANO!R ^W4
  8,:5 HE 0 G"O ,I UNLOCK$ MY BUR1U1 MADE
SURE T MY TR1SURE 0 SAFE1 & LOCK$ X AG4
,!N ,I />T$ 6G R.D ! H\SE 6SEE T ALL 0
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  8,8,TELL ME1 DAD10' SD %E1 LOOK+1 ,I
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  8,8,C]TA9LY N40'
  8,8,%E CAME 9 J N[ 0! BACK DOOR4 ,I H NO
D\BT T %E HAS ONLY BE5 6! SIDE GATE 6SEE
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/OPP$40'
  8,8,Y M/ SP1K 6H] 9 ! MORN+1 OR ,I W IF
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  8,8,Q SURE1 DAD40'
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6MY B$ROOM AG1 ": ,I 0 SOON ASLEEP4
  8,I AM 5D1V\R+ 6TELL Y "EY?+1 ,MR4
,HOLMES1 : MAY H ANY BE>+ ^U ! CASE1 B ,I
BEG T Y W "Q ME ^U ANY PO9T : ,I D N MAKE
CLE>40
  8,ON ! 3TR>Y1 YR /ATE;T IS S+UL>LY
LUCID40
  8,I -E 6A "P ( MY /ORY N[ 9 : ,I %D WI%
6BE "PICUL>LY S4 ,I AM N A V H1VY SLEEP]1
&! ANXIETY 9 MY M9D T5D$1 NO D\BT1 6MAKE
ME EV5 LESS S ?AN USUAL4 ,AB TWO 9 !
MORN+1 !N1 ,I 0 AWAK5$ 0"S S.D 9 ! H\SE4
,X _H C1S$ ]E ,I 0 WIDE AWAKE1 B X _H LEFT
AN IMPRES.N 2H X Z ?\< A W9D[ _H G5TLY
CLOS$ "S":4 ,I LAY LI/5+ ) ALL MY E>S4,SU45LY1 6MY HORROR1 "! 0 A 4T9CT      #AE
S.D ( FOOT/EPS MOV+ S(TLY 9 ! NEXT ROOM4
,I SLIPP$ \ ( B$1 AN PALPITAT+ ) FE>1 &
PEEP$ R.D ! CORN] ( MY DRESS+-ROOM DOOR4
  8,8,>?UR0' ,I SCR1M$1 ,8Y VILLA96 Y
?IEF6 ,H[ D>E Y T\* T CORONET80'
  8,! GAS 0 HALF UP1 Z ,I _H LEFT X1 & MY
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8 H&S4 ,HE APPE>$ 6BE WR5*+ AT X1 OR B5D+
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8 GRASP & TURN$ Z PALE Z D1?4 ,I SNAT*$ X
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