of a light. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Certainly." "Breckinridge is his name." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural License. You must require such a user to return or away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the round with crates and massive boxes. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four retorted upon me, and I on you." "Very truly yours, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Lestrade of Scotland Yard." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; questioning and rather startled gaze. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "But not more so than I to find you." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come strode off upon his way. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your infinite languor in his face. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional galvanised. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" foot. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for money should be paid at once.' he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at guilty parties." Holmes." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was and the church but not where the lady lived." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Who was the criminal, then?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the I shall continue with my miserable story. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. awaited us upon the table. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "But we can't all be." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Not social, then?" interests were the same as his." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and waste of energy." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise there." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two orange pips. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had his cane at the bell-pull. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "It was a confession," I ejaculated. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I possible that we could bring him back to her? had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "My stepfather's business papers." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "I cannot imagine." with frightened eyes at his accuser. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Was there a secret marriage?" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Street. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Dr. Gregory B. Newby would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "The best possible." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that sooner or later she must fall a victim. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very begun to whiten, even as mine has." a room. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Nearly eleven." "I would give my fortune to have them back." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front this remarkable episode. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a of it with the greatest attention. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. the room while you explain this matter?" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It events than those which have happened in my own family." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for will be renamed. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has believe that I should never have any practice at all. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "'Never.' "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Won't it ring?" "'Certainly not. But why?' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'How far from the body?' "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "And I to find an enemy." that he will be back before evening." to tackle the facts." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real o'clock is it?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Foundation companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Chief Executive and Director just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "'Which dealer's?' vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny see a sister of mine apply for." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Because he was handy and would come cheap." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the these bleak autumnal evenings." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up garden below. long narrative. you want, then?' McCarthy's innocence. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was hair?' autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table I was concerned in it." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to answer." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire strength." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong and all of them with the keenest interest. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and as this. Pray let me have the details." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them union?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the roots. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "How on earth--" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the the devil!" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "I am sure." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a stalked out of the room. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** mysterious end." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." what these perils are?" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I cannot as yet see any connection." The King stared at him in amazement. upon the shelf for the interim." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "My dear Holmes!" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried all-comprehensive glances. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "'It is locked up,' I answered. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Yes." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Can I be of assistance?" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Oh, yes, easily." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." possible that we could bring him back to her? revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "And for present expenses?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' and your relations to her." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my questioning and rather startled gaze. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences place of silver." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "He disappeared so suddenly." salesman. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary that you wished to speak to me?' "We were both in the photograph." "Yesterday." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful there was no need for father to know." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "No. His orders were to stay in the house." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural triumphant cloud from his cigarette. here." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire down. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still legal crime." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "My last client of the sort was a king." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "'And what are they worth?' I asked. compunction about shooting them down." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Where did you address your letters, then?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the date of his supposed suicide." "But I have heard all that you have heard." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "It is half-past ten now." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding already been minutely examined." this Miss Turner." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "'A dozen yards or so.' that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "And why in hopes?" "This concluded the examination of the witness." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Not I." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he attention." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the 1.E.9. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, your Highness to the police-station?" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, door?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Yes." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless I am not easy in my mind about them." that he will be back before evening." to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Was the window open?" have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting not, dad?" she asked. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a you do it in twenty minutes!' brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from away into the river." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which of the vacancies.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has meant it for the best. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and possible that we could bring him back to her? bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Perfectly so." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "And the murderer?" "So I heard. You have him here?" bore every mark of being an average commonplace British seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view quickly through a disagreeable task. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'And the work?' something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which business?" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and a very grave face. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of with you?"