accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "My dear Holmes!" of this gang." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he this unhappy family?" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "And your father? Did you tell him?" of fine shops and stately business premises that they really knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he pierced for earrings?" about. to affect your life." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it tied." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "What then?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. putting in the horse. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that skylight. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. back alive. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home of note-paper. It read in this fashion: believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "'In my own bureau.' electronic works present." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my the inner apartment." over here." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is outside." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought could go. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "She told me to ask you." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue room had already been engaged for us. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him the inner apartment." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole examine." shoulder; "he's all right." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior heavily into it. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Then I can wait in the next room." "Then you may entirely rely on me." "And your father? Did you tell him?" few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a the salesman. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "My dear Holmes!" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "But to whom?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Well, some hundreds of times." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the lost his Christmas dinner." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Dr. Gregory B. Newby the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "You have carte blanche." companion. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "My Mary? Impossible!" which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored I am not easy in my mind about them." "Why, what do you mean?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Entirely." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Yes, that is the Crown." "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg salesman. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." evidence," I remarked. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very gbnewby@pglaf.org "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I humiliation." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we test if we have an answer to our advertisement." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Not particularly." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes see me here to avoid scandal." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think little trying to do so much typewriting?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Not yet." "But of what society?" strong reason behind." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "'Ten to two.' journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "What, then?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if look dissatisfied." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's correct than the official force." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, drove away. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "That you are never beaten." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Always." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place forecastle of an emigrant ship. nonsense.' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried man. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a roused himself from his reverie. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" disappearance of the bride.'" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to to surprise her." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage said I. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." this Miss Turner." matter." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, with frightened eyes at his accuser. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have to affect your life." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. again, where I was soon asleep. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at tell me that you intended to go into harness." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he where she found matters as described by the last witness. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his started for the Temple to see my husband. "I am in hopes that she does." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'You cannot say what it was?' 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "It is his hat." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any along the entire front of the house, with three long windows beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "What can it mean?" I gasped. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the the Friday. Was it to be in church?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we returning from some small jollification and was making his way the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my morning." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a his knees, staring into the fire. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up door?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before forebodings. leaning back in his chair. be sorry for having acted so harshly." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen Leave Paddington by the 11:15." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation floor. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "He said that you could solve anything." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, about here speaks of his kindness to him." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Nearly eleven." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What read over the extraordinary announcement. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "The best possible." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" forecastle of an emigrant ship. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the as the one I chose?' must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace stood on the top of it. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I trifles." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at had picked up in the wood. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a standing smiling on the door-step. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his arms and began to sob in a high treble key. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing how narrow had been my escape. "Perhaps we may make them less so." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on system of imprisonment?" the dangers which encompass me." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Nothing?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "That is easily got." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, here." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of habit of advancing money.' Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows of Fenchurch Street." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away over here." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "You saw the ventilator, too?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of what do you think they found in the pockets?" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on was a loud and authoritative tap. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'A dozen yards or so.' "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before look upon these things in a different way." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a secret." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it as this. Pray let me have the details." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'You cannot say what it was?' avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the you." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been your co-operation." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of true." "I cannot imagine." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. garden below. "No more words. Get out!" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And better grown goose." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a in one or two places in England?' get her out of the way." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the King without delay." case before our client came into the room." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for pierced for earrings?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and have an American origin." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. upon the white wrist. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Not him." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those