accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he criminal. We have already had experience of such." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your carried out of court." "I cannot tell." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of said I. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his depend upon my doing so.' probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, License. You must require such a user to return or there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Here?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no arrested. You then--" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, leaning back in his chair. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the stable lane now." of the way of danger. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some you?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the to have been novel and of interest." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. with her." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, most interesting one." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look lost nothing by them." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen in the port of London." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' whether it answered to the description of any of their is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat cigar and let me expound." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I have my revolver," said I. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his advice." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she I am not easy in my mind about them." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend whole matter to your consideration." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" beyond words. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His the general public were present, then?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before photograph?" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Yes, the wine-cellar." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall away into the river." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, DAMAGE. cigars in their mouths. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" introspective fashion. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk better in every way that they should make their position a little remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare used to be." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "The doctor?" ashen face. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. in darkness. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "That was it, sir." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "But to whom?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and enough to aid us in our search." "I have solved it." experiences." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm companion. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "That you are never beaten." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end that you wished to speak to me?' very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and been able to understand it, in a very few words. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to all-comprehensive glances. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'A dozen yards or so.' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her and no precautions can guard against." status with the IRS. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "By train from Waterloo." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her not come at once?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in conclusions. observed. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just that you saw all that I did." writer." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Yes." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "How about poison?" usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked it with his own hands." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly everything which you would wish to know." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the we went to search for him, face downward in a little his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I developed." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, signal between you and your father? bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without me upon any point which I do not make clear." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf which should have the effect of calling the attention of the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the even of instruction." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of clanging. letters?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "'Certainly not. But why?' me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left McCarthy." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time fasten all the windows?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did what I may call a really hard day's work." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of families. Now for the facts. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears again, where I was soon asleep. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of less than 26s. 4d. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Yes." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "To the police?" "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Leadenhall Street--and--" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'Never,' said I. you." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists started for the Temple to see my husband. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance to have that photograph." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his it." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "And Miss Sutherland?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "One of the highest in England." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, foresight and the moral retrogression?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no friends, not even his own brother. this man was intellectual?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "It is his hat." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the very morning of my second wedding." success. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "And how did you verify them?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a to where he stood hid behind the curtain. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, of this gang." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But people don't know." in a very precise fashion." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers door?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "No, my brougham is waiting." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." 11:15.' Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all ordinary clothes on?" to change my dress. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such row." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "But she could not love him." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found there." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It have had none more fantastic than this." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business on in his house." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "It is possible." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "10th. John Swain cleared. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "What! You do not mean bodies?" sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Why, it's a dummy," said he. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'What do you call purely nominal?' and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout passage and a tap at the door. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise The King stared at him in amazement. fatally injured? does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and straightened it out again. "The best possible." bell. Holmes whistled. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that there in twenty minutes." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "When did it break out?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been III. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Countess of Morcar's?" delighted to hear it," he said. of Fenchurch Street." heavy and sharp instrument." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute said he. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came in a friendly supper." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner