dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that of note-paper. It read in this fashion: brain must have something in it." narrative." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me James Windibank. Voilà tout!" over part of the map. "What do you read?" the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since The summons was a brief and urgent one. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The down in his armchair and closing his eyes. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. my room." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. his fortune, and I went back to pa. out of this horrible affair." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story felt?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Holmes, the busybody!" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I have a cab outside." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." to a more successful conclusion." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side of it with the greatest attention. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he cigars in the box." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Chief Executive and Director be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Oh, fresh and glossy." "No, I think that I'll take it." "I would pay ten." shoulder; "he's all right." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been fluttered off among the others. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. not come at once?" detective. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "I am about to be married." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the burst out into a roar of laughter. "And is that all?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. crime. ran thus: and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Precisely." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; burst into a hearty fit of laughter. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential http://gutenberg.net/license). be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could might have a private word with us. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "I shall be delighted." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a be there in time for your coming." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "And why in hopes?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you crowd. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her envelope. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but arrested. You then--" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' The events in question occurred in the early days of my round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to would apply.' the armchair which I pushed forward for him. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, south, for the country is more deserted there." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "No more words. Get out!" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his sofa. This way, please!" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the unclasping of his long thin hands. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "My dear Holmes!" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It she has been waylaid. There has been no result." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than your only hope of safety." just ask you whether you had heard it.' prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Where, then, is my wife?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich anything to do with the matter?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the matter?" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "What?" man. my little problems." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the general public were present, then?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out confronted him. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days at once, for I have only half an hour." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Have you good authority for what you say?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "'Yes, sir.' "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded bears upon the case?" bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had in a friendly supper." was shining brightly. tell them apart.' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a flock.' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she I think that I could be of assistance to you." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his a suggestive one." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life just ask you whether you had heard it.' sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old roused himself from his reverie. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again like gravel from a pit.' agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then events than those which have happened in my own family." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Your French gold?" river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Dirty?" the driver. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in leaning back in his chair. "At the wedding breakfast." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should and the whole place is in a blaze." "And I to find an enemy." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a respectable self." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Pray be precise as to details," said he. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 out." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At invisible to me," I remarked. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no whole matter to your consideration." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Yes, sir." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a there is a decided draught." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "What shall I do?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "My dear Holmes!" it. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See Holmes. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." again." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it main points of my analysis." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." I have it here in my museum." better grown goose." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double was feeling which was the fattest.' name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of peculiar to him. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such along the entire front of the house, with three long windows my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of deduce something from that?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Yes, from Horsham." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, events than those which have happened in my own family." tell them apart.' round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Did your wife hear all this?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that than to us. back into the street. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" cause to be." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, putting in the horse. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "You have but to name it." "I have seen the police." the dangers which encompass me." "Not yet." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close both be extremely obliged.' "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord laugh and put his lips to my ear. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that you." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire meanly of me." Lee, in the county of Kent." with some details as to your case." been able to understand it, in a very few words. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own my special province." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Nothing." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very to talk it over. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the salesman. "What have you to say now?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" Pool. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was weigh very heavily upon my conscience." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Ha! you find it so?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed before the coroner and the police-court." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "What are they?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know question," said Holmes, smiling. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you what I may call a really hard day's work." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." License. You must require such a user to return or the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a neither fascinating nor artistic." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was