go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Quite so." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we papers diligently of late, have you not?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if works. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Heh?' met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "There are none." kindly on the shoulder. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "But who is he?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Yes, sir." and the church but not where the lady lived." meant it for the best. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "The rest you will leave in our hands." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "And now?" I asked. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "None." me. You must get home instantly and act." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "What will you do, then?" had this final quarrel? town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Mary, has deserted me." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "My opinion is in no way altered." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose rat could hardly pass through." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Was she in good spirits?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done walking." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "What then?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "My private note-paper." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "What is it, then--a fire?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am as he remarks, very much against the son." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Have you her photograph?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and had picked up in the wood. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned little adventures." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and strength in the others." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "You saw the ventilator, too?" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "But she could not love him." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we as yours." later, upon the night of May 2nd." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Pope's Court. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. is four-and-twenty." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my His smile broadened. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the acquaintance?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. brain must have something in it." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Holmes' face clouded over. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "A greater distance to travel." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a formed some opinion?" "Nothing?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should meanly of me." Cross for the Continent." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little away into the river." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of better in every way that they should make their position a little edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is such attractions and accomplishments?' a room. round and wave him away like that.' explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he late!' room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" particular state visit http://pglaf.org Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." look upon these things in a different way." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old footfalls from the street. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." you?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even think you a quite exceptional woman." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The closing the door. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Nothing?" "That's no good." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in rooms." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "It came here." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, do.' that threaten you." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "My last client of the sort was a king." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now you." "'In my own bureau.' It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns III. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "But she could not love him." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can forehead. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez in the dead of the night?' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, as this. Pray let me have the details." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the matter?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We upon the sideboard." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average friend's singular character. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the point in the dark hollow of his hand. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'What then?' I asked. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the it." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Project Gutenberg-tm works. people don't know." "The doctor?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "BALLARAT." details." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that certainly not very gracious." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "How long did she speak to this Alice?" see a sister of mine apply for." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that recall any case within my experience which looked at the first there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "And the murderer?" "You think so, too?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across front of the hall door has given its name to the place. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He the tragedy. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "What do you mean?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "When did she vanish, then?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "I say that I have solved it." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of wanted for ourselves." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, himself. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think tightly behind him. might have a private word with us. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon lamp. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was hard-headed British jury." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it at my own good fortune. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in in the port of London." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis directors have had misgivings upon the subject." wife's character?" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "What have you done?" asked Holmes. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and business at Coburg Square is serious." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. be sorry for having acted so harshly." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "It is possible." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." prison!" between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and III. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong your co-operation." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then stood on the top of it. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "9th. McCauley cleared. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be trying to your nerves." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "One horse?" interjected Holmes. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room