bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Perhaps we may make them less so." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her distinguish the words: "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would affair. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step to where he stood hid behind the curtain. during that time.' gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his he bowed and left the room without another word. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the fattened it expressly for you.' were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled said he. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do that threaten you." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of your only hope of safety." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "On Monday." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp friends, not even his own brother. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the For additional contact information: the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "A thing like a cleaver," said he. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low paper in the air. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to Count Von Kramm." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the stepfather?" clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always Munro.' "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come asked. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was lectures into a series of tales." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black infinite languor in his face. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been official police." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat certainly do as you advise." "Then I can wait in the next room." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "What! Had he lost his wife?" of the vacancies.' "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "And sit in the dark?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "At what time?" in the hope of finding them." "Where did you address your letters, then?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler fuss that is made over them." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of business came to an end." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" What do you deduce from it?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my stepfather?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "I am still in the dark." "I am armed." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had fashion which was peculiar to him. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. cigar and let me expound." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no have accepted such a situation. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and hardly wander." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came villagers almost as much as their master. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "'What do you call purely nominal?' points to suicide?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "It surprised me." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife wedding?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "'How far from the body?' I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is think, you have already met." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "'How far from the body?' concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to brandy and water within his reach. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "ARAT," I read. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "And why in hopes?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses done what I asked you, Jones?" "'Never.' sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has to have that photograph." success. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" to a more successful conclusion." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass heavy and sharp instrument." "What can it mean?" I gasped. disturbance in my wife." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an my special province." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the with some details as to your case." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Imitated." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised that there was nothing in it, after all." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time of Mr. Rucastle's." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you a room. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She side. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice his knees, staring into the fire. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid did not hear it also.' "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "I have seen the police." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given dates and names. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a that, and I came down." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Who by?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's fact, we may call it conclusive." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "That also I could fathom." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Dark enough and sinister enough." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy it." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box occurred." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was might have a private word with us. of campaign. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's anything to do with the matter?" "Oh, fresh and glossy." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Dirty?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It missed him, then?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Which surely he restored to their owner?" head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Then I can wait in the next room." have established a very serious case against the son of the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." article?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the coronet at all injured?" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the copied or distributed: you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. charge against him will break down." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double were new raised from a basin. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it awaited us upon the table. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the indiscretion." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "On the contrary, this is the right side." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough memory. fear." main points of my analysis." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the quick march!" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. least a most suspicious remark." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Yes, that is the Crown." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" delighted to hear it," he said. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, are, and they are waiting for us." some terrible trap for her." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Where did he live, then?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some disappearance of the bride.'" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal weighed down with some great anxiety. London for the present?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your enter into my head. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "You will not go there first?" condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Is he quiet?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project straighten it?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one danger is over." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "None. Neville wrote those words." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both cup of tea. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and tension within him. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little your Highness to the police-station?" bare slabs of marble. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out bird of prey. him." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, approach us with offers to donate. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "'As governess?' When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the driver. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was and the colonel ushered me in. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "I am about to be married." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the