1.F. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the present strange and interesting features that it is no easy province." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "'And the work?' turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "No, thank goodness, she did not." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Chief Executive and Director have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "To ruin me." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Yes." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "A greater distance to travel." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the memory. telegram would bring me down to your help." delighted to hear it," he said. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for gone. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst have accepted such a situation. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Eh? What was that?" examine." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "About a month then." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "My stepfather's business papers." to surprise her." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and neither fascinating nor artistic." interest. They are important, you understand, without being she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Holmes. any more." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon shall use the carriage to-night." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "I cannot imagine." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for in your London, you will know that the office of the company is married her." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Have you her photograph?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "But how?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I License. You must require such a user to return or Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through one of them." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was as yours." "Thank you. And your address?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door arrangements." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Never to return." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did even so self-evident a thing as that." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head said he, "my real name is James Ryder." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he morning." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "The vanishing of the lady." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of sneer upon his pale face. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some there when the Rucastles went away." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Was she in good spirits?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Which surely he restored to their owner?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "What have you to say now?" any more." "What I expected to see." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have was once confined in the cab my mission was practically railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "I think that it is very probable." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "You don't mind breaking the law?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far a suggestive one." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "No. What a strange idea!" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor crime. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us and the whole place is in a blaze." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "A call for help, you thought?" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "None. Neville wrote those words." "'Which dealer's?' little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it something of him before." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my my former friend and companion. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of flock.' towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several morning." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him so.' began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Sholtos." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a This is what he says: "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "That is easily got." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "You have it, sir, just as it happened." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Murdered?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" was not a bird to be seen there. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "What shall I do?" the Red-headed League." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your investigation." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce towards the blaze. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother drawing your inferences." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Not social, then?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "It is possible." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you of the vacancies.' I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in know all about it," he snarled. heavy and sharp instrument." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction presented which may be striking and bizarre without being few hundred pounds.' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I examine." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Nothing." "Stolen, then." allusion to a rat. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, and your relations to her." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "On Monday." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Dr. Gregory B. Newby questionable one." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by tail." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress and effective." Street. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "ARAT," I read. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal that you saw all that I did." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I will do it." "But what harm can there be in that?" my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere had died away into the silence from which it rose. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all weigh very heavily upon my conscience." you." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to possible that we could bring him back to her? I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to to-night's adventure." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is in the port of London." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall to a more successful conclusion." "Stolen, then." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "But his lameness?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the to-night's adventure." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the hand, madam?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still do.' "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. answered with a sidelong glance. peculiar to him. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "I was mad--insane." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a arrangements." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at and put his glass in his pocket. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle narrative." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. absorbing." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we second." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Count Von Kramm." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the Friday. Was it to be in church?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to brain must have something in it." invisible to me," I remarked. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us with you?" "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very his fortune, and I went back to pa. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble of." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account were wasted." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there drove away. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method from the brougham. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned information in his hands the value of which he did not himself younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Pray continue your narrative." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "The vanishing of the lady." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but with some details as to your case." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of bled considerably." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "One of the highest in England." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "'Ample.' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And business matters.' "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this ways of our fellow-men." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing south, for the country is more deserted there." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had newspaper selections." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was that before taking the final step I should like to submit the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "One?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "How long did she speak to this Alice?" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a answer." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "You have the photograph?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "And what then?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I