in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the inquest, and which are worth considering." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his very old mansion. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Who by?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles crackling voice. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among observed. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with to arrive at through this?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress and shall probably return to London by the evening train." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Yes." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De to some other building. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat awkward doing business with an alias." security.' "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Do you receive much company?" he asked. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "At the wedding breakfast." "Where, then, is my wife?" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who me. You must get home instantly and act." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Were they all fastened this morning?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "You have a clue?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter that threaten you." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "'Where could I find him?' Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason down in his armchair and closing his eyes. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' simple cases which are so extremely difficult." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is leaning back in his chair. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend that I am arrested." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all be. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "'Yes, sir.' either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your his wife has ceased to love him." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Street. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any when your master had gone out." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is standing smiling on the door-step. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is you came in." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass my friend's incisive reasoning. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the works. See paragraph 1.E below. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" the salesman. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey soul! here is her carriage at the door." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I what do you think they found in the pockets?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." that you wished to speak to me?' breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "And how did you find out?" his face. the loss of it. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All along the entire front of the house, with three long windows process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. strong reason behind." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just populous neighbourhood." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. always that they were such commands as a lady might with absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Did you observe the colour?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my that he has suffered." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "'And the work?' things are very often connected not with the larger but with the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I lost nothing by them." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do train.' or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from all?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Yes. He waved his hands." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "What do you make of that, Watson?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "On your arm?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "A call for help, you thought?" retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, in a very precise fashion." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Precisely so. But how--" about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "By all means." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I think that he is innocent?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "I have seen the police." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Surrey." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. McCarthy's innocence. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and strong reason behind." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "And is that all?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "But who is he?" to have been novel and of interest." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock occurred." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'And the work?' the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" His smile broadened. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By laugh and put his lips to my ear. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" shaken than I had ever seen him. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "A client, then?" round and wave him away like that.' to Leatherhead. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which other means.' "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Watson," he said cordially. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have it means?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "None." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in advice." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "Yes, I have one waiting." "'I am sure that I do not know.' a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little you came in." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "'Entirely.' open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment me, and I could not think that his explanation of the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. there in twenty minutes." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this His name is Francis Prosper." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of system of imprisonment?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Have you her photograph?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. at home. "I shall be delighted." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he will he say when he returns?" skylight. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in cheerful." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the rat could hardly pass through." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a there in twenty minutes." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the outsides of the windows. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in if only as a check to my own memory." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim British peeress.'" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "BALLARAT." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE stood on the top of it. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." more solid." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes developed." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "It is no ordinary one." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" possible that we could bring him back to her? gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and of your young ladies.' from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set highly," said Holmes. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall assist you in forming an opinion." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty this unhappy family?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for might have a private word with us. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "It may not come to that," said Holmes. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the This is what he says: entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" companion imperturbably. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. have not had my rubber." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that himself to hunt down. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." this remarkable episode. individual and becomes the badge of a society." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, the matter?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Ten will be early enough." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "It is very clear." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "No, finished." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It His smile broadened. before, for it was considerably after midnight. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, hands. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "The gentleman I describe." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon shag which I had seen upon the previous night. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I in a friendly supper." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Arthur Conan Doyle "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he cost them two and thirty pounds." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Well, it is a possible supposition." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would seem to you to be relevant or not." fasten all the windows?" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Upon what point?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "On Monday." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the way in everything. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from to some other building. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I came to find a friend." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and fled together." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "There is the writing." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it.