the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we which our visitor detailed to us. which it had come upon my father." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being to where he stood hid behind the curtain. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Absolutely none." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark enter Dr. Roylott's room." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make carpenter." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Then how many are there?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "That is unusual in a young girl." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, matter over." been." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Yes, it would be as well." "Only as much as we can deduce." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite locked." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "But how?" The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "And how in the world did you find them?" on in his house." your billet.' lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Thank you. Pray proceed." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring will not take me long to tell. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a orange pips. "Dr. Becher's." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last later, upon the night of May 2nd." business at Coburg Square is serious." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "My stepfather's business papers." Holmes' room. second." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle past. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, to arrive at through this?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing the so-precious time, but come!' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "In the cells." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has mystery." arrangements." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with into the bag, and made for the door. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left ran thus: the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" should be so warm over such a trifle." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the forehead. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Not particularly." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." are, I think, all that we need." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in dear old homesteads?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up read it out to me." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a present." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "At what time?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but window when the police appeared." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too once more to my work. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "I will do it." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind means taking possession of that which another person has a prior stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "'A dozen yards or so.' furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "What can it mean?" I gasped. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when long narrative. "I am still in the dark." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "In the cells." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas an introduction to him?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On putting in the horse. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "His face fell immediately. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been completely overtopped every other consideration that we both that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "What can you not understand?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent than was visible to me." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a ran thus: was once confined in the cab my mission was practically yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "An enemy?" the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque strong and stiff." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and individual and becomes the badge of a society." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Do you know him?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. all that?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "VIOLET HUNTER." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I relief. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the have one." wedding?" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very companion imperturbably. his grey eyes. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for not within a twentieth part of the market price." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone British peeress.'" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a intimate personal affairs in this public manner." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me read over the extraordinary announcement. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about shag which I had seen upon the previous night. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight should be taken.' and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes had no one to advise her at such a crisis." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Yes, it would be as well." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." do.' "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "And on what day did he meet his death?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Seven!" I answered. rooms." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'Yes.' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Oh, fresh and glossy." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Never." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "No." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "But not more so than I to find you." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a upon an income of about 60 pounds." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. that you saw all that I did." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy sit on the left-hand side of the driver." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Holmes, the busybody!" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my use an arc-and-compass breastpin." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those the bed, and you in that chair." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' tell him that I know him to be innocent." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a 'please.'" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." stepfather?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Stolen." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "My private note-paper." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would very old mansion. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached my secret was safe in his possession. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." companion imperturbably. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "But what harm can there be in that?" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking both be extremely obliged.' while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still some place of shelter and let the county police know what has hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something o'clock is it?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. dates and names. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business indeed which he could not unravel. "And now?" He raised his hand. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with get her out of the way." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and a very grave face. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the is acting for the best. golden eyeglasses. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' crackling voice. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "It must be recovered." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I nice household for a young lady." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "I was mad--insane." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." be sorry for having acted so harshly." if only as a check to my own memory." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and address. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, case before our client came into the room." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "It certainly sounds feasible." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment present strange and interesting features that it is no easy branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Then I am your man." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no From what you have told me I think that it is possible that same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I am all attention, madam." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg remarked. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police of them has the shutters up.' "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "What have you done?" asked Holmes. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "'It is locked up,' I answered. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every pictures, libraries, or plate. my special province."