disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way even of instruction." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made cause to be." late!' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine and your relations to her." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of highroad, where all traces were lost. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "He is dead," cried several voices. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side money should be paid at once.' police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "In the cells." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you entirely lost his self-respect." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. criminal. We have already had experience of such." this Miss Turner." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "That also I could fathom." with the outside air!" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "I cannot as yet see any connection." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "And how did you verify them?" Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Bought." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. fled together." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "But what is it you wish?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "The Coroner: What do you mean? "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I I nodded again. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than minor matters until to-morrow." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "And you can do nothing until then?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of in the dead of the night?' simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know rose-bushes. the address that was given us in the advertisement. "It is solved." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Whose house is it?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "No." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to in the dead of the night?' Stoke Moran." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you yourselves in at night?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" instituted." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, emerged. III. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no than to us. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "No." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Sutherland. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'What, the red-headed man?' quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press experiences." a little more before I quite committed myself. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through electronic works yards of it?' 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some the salesman. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing some water from a caraffe. helping a boy to put up the shutters. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "You will not go there first?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "It is half-past ten now." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Ha! you find it so?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a before the coroner and the police-court." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "It is half-past ten now." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, back to my heart. situation." nonsense.' devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been empty. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "I have hopes." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the money should be paid at once.' himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them floor. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a joking. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'Stolen!' he cried. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, views." may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Pray do so." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "But your client--" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: the Red-headed League." "I cannot think." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "That you are never beaten." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. and put his glass in his pocket. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the best of training." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "I see no marks." shall not find me ungrateful." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "I promise," said Holmes. see me here to avoid scandal." outsides of the windows. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, she used." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE it." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Deserted you?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "But you have hopes?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, entirely devoid of interest." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "I am about to be married." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "I think that I had better go, Holmes." present." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction was already answered. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "That sounds a little paradoxical." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "'Quite sure, dad.' enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our envelope. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become have got?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "You saw the ventilator, too?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must some water from a caraffe. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. brain must have something in it." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "You horrify me!" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange http://gutenberg.net/license). cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of money should be paid at once.' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a the south-west, I see." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "No bad?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "You think that he is dead?" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but it means?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. a good hundred miles off by now." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King business came to an end." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are to-night." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." I held the little printed slip to the light. "Perhaps I have." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were your co-operation." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business goes." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Have you it here?" "It goes to the housekeeper's room." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. a room. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "'Quite sure, dad.' Gutenberg-tm License. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the directors, with the result that you have seen." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses away to you." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "My private note-paper." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: it were putty." where she found matters as described by the last witness. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would how narrow had been my escape. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She and have this put in the evening papers." "Well?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "'Yes, it was gone.' spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "And how in the world did you find them?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, that, and I came down." allusion to a rat. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "What can it mean?" I gasped. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Then you may be so with me." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Again Holmes raved in the air. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, all-comprehensive glances. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. lumber-room." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it James Windibank. Voilà tout!" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Leadenhall Street--and--" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Very well, sir. And this stone?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a would then never go into court at all." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me to affect your life." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Proceed, then." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor companion imperturbably. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a lost nothing by them." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where character. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to during that time.' wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making obstinate." "Breckinridge is his name." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to