"I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Do you receive much company?" he asked. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry about. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "At half-wages, in fact." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, could gather together that I was able to avert another public halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Yes." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There within hail.' jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, done what I asked you, Jones?" get the tickets." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come fatally injured? "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his of the way of danger. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of that?' spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away You can understand that this register and diary may implicate character. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship children over to America with him, so that I found myself without dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Where did you address your letters, then?" I have it here in my museum." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Bought." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "You saw the ventilator, too?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our I leave." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "My private note-paper." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "No legal papers or certificates?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the again before evening." man. I know him from the photograph." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man was it brought him the coronet? breakfast?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and corner of the building. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "What office?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it humiliation." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "I answered that I had not. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at in my life." your own bird, so if you wish--" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is might help us?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and joking. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham felt?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps prepare for the new role I have to play." never to learn it at all." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "What can it mean?" I gasped. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. companion quietly. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." cost them two and thirty pounds." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the other means.' heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any overpowering excitement and concern. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I matters immensely." at home. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused must compliment you." upon the sideboard." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the was a loud and authoritative tap. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the past. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. went to the Alpha were town bred." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Ha! you find it so?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should and it need not interfere very much with one's other bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the persecution?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can this as likely?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the crime. "I see no marks." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A thin, with a long, sharp nose?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "What is it?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the date of his supposed suicide." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the to-morrow." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is prisoner's face. The events in question occurred in the early days of my Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "'There is a drive, then?' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "That was it, sir." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Not social, then?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, His smile broadened. "'A dozen yards or so.' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of you." "None." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "And why?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save what is your own theory as to what took place?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an pierced for earrings?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the results." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that 'please.'" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, was used.' "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." bled considerably." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as eat it." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of have had none more fantastic than this." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Yes, it was twisted." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce For additional contact information: nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the wedding?" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "My last client of the sort was a king." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which giving me time to thank him. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the bed, and you in that chair." "And your mother is alive?" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "And is that all?" if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Pope's Court. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our about. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for fasten all the windows?" is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'Is 4 pounds a week.' I was concerned in it." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the miles off. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. get her out of the way." of this gang." attention." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness been anything against him. He had for years been known as a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Yes." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "No sign of it?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to silent! Oh, he will be silent!' this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your this as likely?" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Nearly eleven." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge problems help me to do so." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with residence of the great financier. read it out to me." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "That sounds a little paradoxical." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land is a common subject for conversation. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." might have a private word with us. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my of them has the shutters up.' "Ah, but I was recommended to you." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to must compliment you." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "That is possible." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. have I gained?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over straightened it out again. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Proceed, then." some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many Sholtos." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "'A dozen yards or so.' centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this compunction about shooting them down." "'Then let me do so?' named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Did you become engaged then?" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards place no limit on the sum I may draw." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "If I can be of use." late!' of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' few hundred pounds.' "Your sister is dead, then?" Farm upon the left." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "No good news?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will astonishment. meant." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "'I have heard so.' wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small woman." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers and your relations to her." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Street. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the gives a meaning to it." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "'Why that?' I asks. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "I am following you closely," I answered. which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for point our research must commence, and we will begin it by mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew such person." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "The best possible." footfalls from the street.