here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from your Highness to the police-station?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle questionable one." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of instituted." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Do you go out much in society?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I never have." must compliment you." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His thin, with a long, sharp nose?" have one." should be taken.' flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase about here speaks of his kindness to him." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." prepare for the new role I have to play." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael some city in a dream. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you not personally threatened." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I will try. What is it?" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped bed dies. Does not that strike you?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and brandy and water within his reach. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got mysterious business." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. you do it in twenty minutes!' Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Married! When?" I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "But how?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." redistribution. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Where did you address your letters, then?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "But of what society?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "So it appears." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Yes." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "And sit in the dark?" is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something unprofitable." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists direction." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no distance from the station, and there we found the young lady business at Coburg Square is serious." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "What have you to say now?" and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were legal crime." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth night.' said he. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "It is very kind of you." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, the running down." "Absolutely none." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "But who is he?" at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Have you it here?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Then you may entirely rely on me." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Breckinridge is his name." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "What! You do not mean bodies?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "What!" he roared. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into what these perils are?" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Yes." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Now, then, what's the last entry?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to This is what he says: The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in late." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "You saw the ventilator, too?" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her or in danger--" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "What can it mean?" I gasped. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when your troubles." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Never to return." the roots. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps strong reason behind." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, legal crime." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Well." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "I saw her in conversation with her maid." you want, then?' spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and this Miss Turner." despair." your billet.' deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and your relations to her." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the one as in the other." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or married her." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would intrusion of other matters." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "'Never.' stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "But you have hopes?" "I think it very unlikely." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had several quiet little villages up there." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to occurred." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, that?' breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "'You cannot say what it was?' "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged awkward doing business with an alias." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow with some details as to your case." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any to miss it." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Tired-looking or fresh?" this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Yes, all." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "I think it very unlikely." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle better grown goose." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been in. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "And why?" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I once more. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and used to be." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, time." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "'Very good.' "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with he bowed and left the room without another word. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the village inn over there?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock your room." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him shaken than I had ever seen him. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a words came to my lips. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so chambers. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I was afraid that you were engaged." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would entirely devoid of interest." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after call you and give you the chance." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "And why in hopes?" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in tail." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Very much so." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it public press." to a more successful conclusion." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Pope's Court, Fleet Street." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged sound at heart." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a case before our client came into the room." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I cannot as yet see any connection." once more to my work. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Well, but China?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Not yet." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for as he folded up the epistle. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive burst into a hearty fit of laughter. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Why did you pick him?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way comes from the middle window." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was as this. Pray let me have the details." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your investigation." "BALLARAT." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises few hundred pounds.' It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "No, I think that I'll take it." opened the door, and slipped through. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "'Yes.' and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon you in yours." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with and that he would see to anything that turned up. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At You want to know what became of those geese?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. have had none more fantastic than this." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and What do you deduce from it?" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' strength in the others." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." case before our client came into the room." "Then, how do you know?" her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to I took the paper from him and read as follows: was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt purpose equally well?" increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a awaited us upon the table. "Do you know him?" 'please.'" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the kindly on the shoulder. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, page at http://pglaf.org pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "What I expected to see." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train be. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a him to go away.' alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "And how did he make his money?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom relief. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the your room." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! there has been an enclosure here!" in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "What will you say?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his