"You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. over here." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but whole matter to your consideration." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If that?' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "'And the work?' be there in time for your coming." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself clang of the bell. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and house for five minutes.' which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I cannot say that I have." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his details." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the do." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "But how will you look?" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very hopeless attempt at recovering them." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "'Yes, sir.' the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There him to go away.' was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible ventilator." clanging. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could this remarkable episode. "'How far from the body?' the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the little opening for the ventilator is." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "This photograph!" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "My private note-paper." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by to arrive at through this?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" whereabouts. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day to-night?' "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular 1.E.9. society." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the It may be so in this case, also." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in about here speaks of his kindness to him." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it had formerly been in part my own. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know to a light-house. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost following enigmatical notices: what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Yes." Chief Executive and Director some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "It is true that I have been generally successful." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and like gravel from a pit.' "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade begin with, and I had not got mine yet." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or this unhappy family?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would all-comprehensive glances. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Your French gold?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "You horrify me!" "Will you go?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley companion. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last from you?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty entirely devoid of interest." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Yes, there are nearly always some there." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk there in twenty minutes." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little less than 26s. 4d. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "My stepfather's business papers." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we him!" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as confronted him. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "The Cedars?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "From his hat?" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I that you saw all that I did." straighten it?" if I call to-morrow?" work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a to tell." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. at my remark. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the and effective." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. outsides of the windows. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Murdered?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" nights." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and like gravel from a pit.' into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the signal between you and your father? therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez which it had come upon my father." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking be. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Yes, I have one waiting." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate here." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a way in everything. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own to-night." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to miss it." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and skylight. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Won't it ring?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, once more to my work. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended examination of the premises, but without finding anything which window when the police appeared." "The King of Scandinavia." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "And for present expenses?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "What are they?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "She will not sell." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "In heaven's name, what for?" ways of our fellow-men." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back pressing in one house as in another. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "ARAT," I read. Henry Baker is a member." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" and files of the old papers, following the future career of every stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "My photograph." out of this horrible affair." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the inquest, and which are worth considering." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Proceed, then." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "So I heard. You have him here?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the leave you to your papers for a little." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Chief Executive and Director but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was III. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and and a shock of very red hair. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or redistribution. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "You did not overhear what they said?" "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter and laid it on the table. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Why serious?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Come in!" said Holmes. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely sound at heart." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "And you can do nothing until then?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "An accident, I presume?" constraint." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally that I am arrested." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "And for present expenses?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have these bleak autumnal evenings." over with notes and figures. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "His face fell immediately. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked think that he is innocent?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "No." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And to have been novel and of interest." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish in. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Who by?" stammered. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the shoulder. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has all that?" "But how did you gain them?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only vague figure huddled up in the darkness. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to point in the dark hollow of his hand. morning." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which it right.' dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Certainly." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian plantation.' "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "'Oh, no.' wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such flock.' some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "'I am sure if I had known--' hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, it." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his them?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "The Cedars?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the there when the Rucastles went away." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently the child." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither against a man in the prime of life?" legal crime." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a of receipt of the work. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to we went to search for him, face downward in a little I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of his face. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of this poor creature." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly seen the man in the road." even of instruction." he. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "To an English lawyer named Norton." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a any little problem which you may submit to me." to miss it." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "And I to find an enemy." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the coroner come to?" "We must sit without light. He would see it through the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his that I may have something better before very many minutes are something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "How did he come?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the Assizes." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united have an American origin." "I should wish to." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and other means.' Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. of." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin woman." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your man. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Yes, there are nearly always some there." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and giving me time to thank him. the loss of it. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral,