man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came always that they were such commands as a lady might with here and I will read it to you: his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but my special province." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "And it is--" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, rose-bushes. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "How did you deduce the select?" the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last tell him that I know him to be innocent." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "No, but the enclosure is." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." carried out of court." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the it means?" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. in this way: said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by went to the Alpha were town bred." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we and I shall be with you presently." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. IS writer." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by in one or two places in England?' promised to bring home. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled shadow pass over his face as I spoke. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we said he. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that unclasping of his long thin hands. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from society." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow will be renamed. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the running down." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled indiscretion." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments instituted." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence records." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "But to whom?" caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem name is different." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an I nodded to show that I had heard. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see roused himself from his reverie. "Proceed, then." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent the inner apartment." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "There is the writing." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. discontent upon his features. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I will, Miss Turner." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Have you her photograph?" husband's writing, madam." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the into the bag, and made for the door. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "The Coroner: What do you mean? mysterious end." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my him and tried to hold him back. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, coat-tails." Project Gutenberg-tm works. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant father's young wife. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more From what you have told me I think that it is possible that the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through said Mr. Holder. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all in his hands." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Then I shall certainly come." bare slabs of marble. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that be best to do. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my this as likely?" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "How did that help you?" continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "What is it?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in details." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so way in." him and tried to hold him back. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt things are very often connected not with the larger but with the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the call the police, let the police find what they can.' opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "What will you do, then?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's seem to you to be relevant or not." becomes even more simple." like gravel from a pit.' six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I details." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the empty. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me up this clue while it is still hot." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce simple cases which are so extremely difficult." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Why? What do you mean?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been in his power. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes, certainly." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the been shamefully used." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot is now desirous of getting those letters back." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an imbecility!" he cried. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united writer." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "But how?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, photograph?" "But how will you look?" "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup The King stared at him in amazement. was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Won't it ring?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. you." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect mystery!" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken she might be summoned. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Yes, all." "By all means." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize I have it here in my museum." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "That is possible." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one get the tickets." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "'Is purely nominal.' http://gutenberg.net/license). "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing sneer upon his pale face. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I said Mr. Holder. light and attacked it." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to have an American origin." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "But you can know nothing of this?" me." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "You are hungry," I remarked. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled his face which made him a very different person to the round, made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no ceremony." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Never to return." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the and wait." The summons was a brief and urgent one. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull thin, with a long, sharp nose?" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that should be taken.' tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we awkward doing business with an alias." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back companion. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon your troubles." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." take the flies, but not before." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the words came to my lips. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. key turn in the lock." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the salesman. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Literary Archive Foundation Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting him. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, off." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is trying to your nerves." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Yes, certainly." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address intimate personal affairs in this public manner." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner gbnewby@pglaf.org at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or whether it answered to the description of any of their For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, to a more successful conclusion." province." that I am arrested." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, events, Mr. Windibank!" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out ran thus: the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Perhaps I have." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat should be taken.' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "But who is he?" education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and weary and pale-looking. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive excitement. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so