play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Here?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point girl said." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock some terrible trap for her." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them key of the affair now." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A since then to throw any light upon what became of him." signal between you and your father? "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I see no marks." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my guilty one." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the States. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "But I have heard all that you have heard." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Perhaps we may make them less so." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "And the cigar-holder?" three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." crime." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be thought that she would have been so carried away." strong reason behind." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. been able to understand it, in a very few words. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "I say it is." bird of prey. "He is dead," cried several voices. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "'Yes, it was gone.' foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I particular state visit http://pglaf.org the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had without success. At last the little money which I had saved began something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it late!' mystery may be cleared along those lines." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, some water from a caraffe. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "What is it, then--a fire?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one his knees, staring into the fire. "Upon what point?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shadow pass over his face as I spoke. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I union?" point our research must commence, and we will begin it by very old mansion. certainly do as you advise." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. which are rolled in Rotterdam." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his her also." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who would then never go into court at all." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of jewels which you have stolen?' like that before?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. politicians who had been sent down from the North. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "When did it break out?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. dramatic, in fact." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." felt the room to be a little close.' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "'Why that?' I asks. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "How on earth--" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from awkward doing business with an alias." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a main points of my analysis." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to trying to your nerves." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "No. His orders were to stay in the house." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "No." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "My own seal." "Yes." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Where did he live, then?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "But you can know nothing of this?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not detective. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "The landlord of the Alpha." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. have an American origin." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn appeal." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured matter." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the recover the gem." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty up this clue while it is still hot." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his fire. You quite follow me?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he presume?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. joking. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't bell. Holmes whistled. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached main points of my analysis." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "I have come for advice." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Pray continue your narrative." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Then you may entirely rely on me." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt colour had been driven from his face. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "May I see it?" giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six himself. "And how did you find out?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "No good news?" "And why in hopes?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I think that it is very probable." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "We have tried and failed." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer own family. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in father's place of business?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at at once, for I have only half an hour." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, formed some opinion?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "No, but the enclosure is." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name you in yours." than to us. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we walking." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." to that open window." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was a loud and authoritative tap. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered business matters.' Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this and wait." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily invisible to me," I remarked. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Chief Executive and Director study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'I have heard so.' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a emerged. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots green of the new foliage. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' touch that coronet?' essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. money should be paid at once.' through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I this poor creature." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Yes." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Yes." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'You cannot say what it was?' "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Oh, fresh and glossy." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Not in a good cause." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "I will try. What is it?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had power." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. interested in these little problems, and since you are good princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are colour had been driven from his face. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a was already answered. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Will you go?" this Miss Turner." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "How did that help you?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "What can you not understand?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "A confidential servant?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that think, you have already met." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel rat could hardly pass through." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything searched, without anything being found which could incriminate implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he his fortune, and I went back to pa. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what into the room. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "His face fell immediately. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. forehead. Serpentine Avenue. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "No. What a strange idea!" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal spark where all is dark to me." had this final quarrel? perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the felt the room to be a little close.' "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should heavily into it. "And what did you see?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had in this note: article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents advice." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "No, but the enclosure is." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out with her." murdered man." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is dates and names. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "The King of Scandinavia." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "You saw the ventilator, too?" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "It is very kind of you." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "'What, the red-headed man?' "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She delighted to hear it," he said. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice that you can jump it.' which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." the station."