"'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo already been minutely examined." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is since then to throw any light upon what became of him." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, she to prove their authenticity?" 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the morning." "Could he throw no light?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? before the coroner and the police-court." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their during which he might have communicated with his friend the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. bears upon the case?" coroner's jury." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "To the police?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and the morning and make my own way in the world.' and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, a monotonous occupation." time." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the arrangements." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Pool. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." address. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come away to you." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced address. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and fait accompli?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Upon what point?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a your own bird, so if you wish--" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black ventilator." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is appeared upon the scene." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' felt the room to be a little close.' that you wished to speak to me?' was shining brightly. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Yes?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a behind me. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his extraordinary contortions. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit thin legs towards the fire. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events danger is over." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same already been minutely examined." round and wave him away like that.' and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, other means.' creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? several quiet little villages up there." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in nonsense.' becomes even more simple." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Thank you. Pray proceed." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Yes, at the mines." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'Yes.' trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "By all means." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg burst out into a roar of laughter. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "The landlord of the Alpha." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "But what will you do?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" chance at all." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "'Then let me do so?' "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." only touch the interest." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." were unconscious?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Your sister is dead, then?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a burst into a hearty fit of laughter. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Just look it up, then." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "To ruin me." "'I have heard so.' used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step look upon these things in a different way." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival awkward doing business with an alias." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have rose-bushes. the warnings." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by peculiar to him. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out unprecedented a position." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Nothing?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said enter into my head. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he served to weaken the effect. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your McCarthy's innocence. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to he. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "To ruin me." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a father's young wife. "I am following you closely," I answered. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Deserted you?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" jewels which you have stolen?' strong and stiff." that he will be back before evening." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side light and attacked it." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in morning." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been to some other building. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very certainly not very gracious." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "It was." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Did he not advertise?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of himself to tell his story. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "'Yes, I promise.' smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use himself to hunt down. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. you?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this the Assizes." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and the stable lane now." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My it." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life too. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and I. "Quite so. She has her freedom." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this very old mansion. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "9th. McCauley cleared. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already system of imprisonment?" "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "No, thank goodness, she did not." as he remarks, very much against the son." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in kindly on the shoulder. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its bearing upon the case." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly quick march!" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square as the one I chose?' property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "None. Neville wrote those words." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "'Stolen!' he cried. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Pray do so." bill, which interests me deeply." this unhappy family?" the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence next day. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Quite so." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of companion. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Just look it up, then." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a be.' "Yes." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a tied." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your new duties?' that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; other, as fresh and trim as possible. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "ARAT," I read. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with handed it to him. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Very murderous indeed." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, think that he is innocent?" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from like that before?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." the so-precious time, but come!' for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the make me his representative both with the servants and with the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Seven!" I answered. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "That is also quite modern," said the lady. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "It is very clear." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through papers diligently of late, have you not?" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather."