"Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you pound a week." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America woman." empty. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you useful material for showing traces. The double line a little continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The your own bird, so if you wish--" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' other, as fresh and trim as possible. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. window when the police appeared." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "No." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Not social, then?" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and nonsense.' "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for bearing upon the case." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian are windows in it, of course?" 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." my room." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round easy-going way." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, entirely lost his self-respect." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it at once, for I have only half an hour." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Nearly eleven." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with to-morrow." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Very truly yours, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed 'please.'" "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the matter." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout burst out into a roar of laughter. his knees, staring into the fire. ashen face. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting grasp, he hurried from the room. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, instituted." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "'I shall certainly be there.' black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "In answer to an advertisement." "It is possible." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "But you can know nothing of this?" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who and the colonel ushered me in. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have do.' appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, four million human beings all jostling each other within the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Watson," he said cordially. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." DAMAGE. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about chance at all." "You horrify me." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon as he remarks, very much against the son." second." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "What office?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." have had none more fantastic than this." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of to where he stood hid behind the curtain. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I things are very often connected not with the larger but with the elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, people don't know." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that this truth that in these little records of our cases which you them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt there were one or two details which were new to me. But the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "And now?" He raised his hand. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will shoulder; "he's all right." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, address. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. distinguish the words: the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the of a light. "I have a cab outside." compunction about shooting them down." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Murdered?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob charge against him will break down." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped carpenter." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt one's self under obligations.' Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must exactly what you advise." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal so.' and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, them?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting room had already been engaged for us. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Not him." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "What! You do not mean bodies?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet must compliment you." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not not personally threatened." bird of prey. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or morning." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been good for you to do.' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project to change my dress. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never business came to an end." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "'Entirely.' but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "When did it break out?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of helping a boy to put up the shutters. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "I have my revolver," said I. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his putting in the horse. "You saw the ventilator, too?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so exactly what you advise." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside prepare for the new role I have to play." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need all that?" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The results." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had front of me. said he. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, hurried by. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him never will be, entirely cleared up. shall use the carriage to-night." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "The vanishing of the lady." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Here?" morning." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Ten will be early enough." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From corner of the building. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he me have 200 pounds?' again on its way. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret appeal." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and and glanced through. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Edgeware Road. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the date of his supposed suicide." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so in one or two places in England?' what is your own theory as to what took place?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." upon the shelf for the interim." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Have you good authority for what you say?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who or other trace. But how on earth--" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Breckinridge is his name." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Then he might have called to you?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "'Where could I find him?' days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." my little problems." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with the best of training." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is geese which you supplied to the Alpha." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker come either from the window or the door. My attention was companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Gutenberg-tm License. "I never have." my former friend and companion. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well was used.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang in a very precise fashion." hurried away. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." and a shock of very red hair. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper did not hear it also.' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "He might." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "What office?" fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, obstinate." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Was he the only applicant?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "I came to find a friend." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view companion. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, four million human beings all jostling each other within the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "I have my revolver," said I. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. beg that you will break it off." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's persecution?" have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian on in his house." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside thin legs towards the fire. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." used to be." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All which should have the effect of calling the attention of the firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "I see no marks." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Very truly yours, creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. mystery!" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that important."