in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are could gather together that I was able to avert another public "What have you to say now?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. this as likely?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. walking." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united tell him that I know him to be innocent." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been the tragedy. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of It may be so in this case, also." skylight. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Was there a secret marriage?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I should be immensely obliged to you." if only as a check to my own memory." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down envelope. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange detective. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Certainly." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." populous neighbourhood." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my of it with the greatest attention. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make in the port of London." Does that suggest anything?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Never." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then bonnet, and went out." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where frequently gained my first real insight into the character of myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a yourselves in at night?" "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before depend upon my doing so.' "Why serious?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Never." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" your billet.' social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Can I be of assistance?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." the address that was given us in the advertisement. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I place no limit on the sum I may draw." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "No, I think that I'll take it." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of and inquire as to the address." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "'Stolen!' he cried. "Very murderous indeed." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, experiences." went to the Alpha were town bred." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and seen the man in the road." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He and capable of preserving a secret.' immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "We must sit without light. He would see it through the thought that she would have been so carried away." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I am to be neutral?" the window, rose as we entered. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is friend's singular character. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate down in his armchair and closing his eyes. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "I am still in the dark." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he had formerly been in part my own. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, to-night?' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to the salesman. "And why in hopes?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A hereditary King of Bohemia." "'What, the red-headed man?' "'How far from the body?' and your relations to her." "Yes." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the character. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Yes. He waved his hands." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you our word." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away horse could go." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." his face. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a tell him that I know him to be innocent." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Texas, I think." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any fire. You quite follow me?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored tapping his fingers upon the table. hurried by. for its centre. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always good for you to do.' hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn to his chemical studies. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. train.' afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a hopeless attempt at recovering them." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "My dear Holmes!" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless she has been waylaid. There has been no result." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very him nearly every evening." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Quite so." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I cannot as yet see any connection." has little to do with my story." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate he bowed and left the room without another word. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "'Is purely nominal.' down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Yes." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Certainly, madam." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Why did you pick him?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "What?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began God! What an exposure! What can I do?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' flock.' brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Deserted you?" "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and lips." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "It missed him, then?" asked with his eyes open. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "One of the highest in England." "What will you say?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his his face. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or something of him before." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." spare." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest not use it unless it is absolutely needed." begun to whiten, even as mine has." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, were wasted." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is have accepted such a situation. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the so far?" trifles." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles him. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Your sister is dead, then?" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Frequently." possible that we could bring him back to her? and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and any little problem which you may submit to me." whole matter to your consideration." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his you." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing me where it went to?" as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back matter." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness them present such singular features as the strange train of "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the light and attacked it." "Could he throw no light?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will absorbing." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was that there was nothing in it, after all." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold you." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Certainly." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'Yes.' "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "One?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after soul! here is her carriage at the door." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon skylight. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do down in his armchair and closing his eyes. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Breckinridge is his name." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "It was a confession," I ejaculated. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire been deceived." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his