Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "No, my brougham is waiting." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was to arrive at through this?" to change my dress. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Then I do not see the point." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "The best possible." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that humiliation." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "I have my revolver," said I. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' was a perfect sample of the class. "And what then?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose DAMAGE. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." girl said." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Yes, that is the Crown." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" upon the white wrist. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, laugh and put his lips to my ear. character. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main questionable one." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner God! What an exposure! What can I do?" tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable have had none more fantastic than this." you give your casting vote to?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "The gentleman I describe." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I some terrible trap for her." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the salesman. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four in one or two places in England?' than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was begun to whiten, even as mine has." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "It may not come to that," said Holmes. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of hour?' horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Holmes' room. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "You were travelling in the States?" "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and was it brought him the coronet? act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "What office?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons which was all perfectly true. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Lee, in the county of Kent." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "That you are never beaten." have been better. It is all right." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "But who is he?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was matter over." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they later, upon the night of May 2nd." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a arrested. You then--" Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Your sister is dead, then?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, people in all walks of life. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold I. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about cost them two and thirty pounds." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I always that they were such commands as a lady might with "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'I have already given you my word.' wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and purpose equally well?" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "How can you tell that?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." absorbing." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set conclusions. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'Yes, sir.' had picked up in the wood. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of into the room. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he new duties?' "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far said he. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should guilty one." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the crime. garden below. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "But it has twice been burgled." went to the Alpha were town bred." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really companion. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you 1.F. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property was already answered. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do them?" "How on earth--" purpose of examination. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall generous with you in money matters.' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's singular points about the case. What did the police think of the for securing the situation." such attractions and accomplishments?' villagers almost as much as their master. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "But she will refuse." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the devil!" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Why did you pick him?" chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "How about poison?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' 1.E.9. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was directly by questioning you." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with goes." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the chill to my heart. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year roused himself from his reverie. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "No. What a strange idea!" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes enter into my head. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "And is that all?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Perfectly so." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out hopeless attempt at recovering them." several quiet little villages up there." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was here and I will read it to you: successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and your only hope of safety." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "She told me to ask you." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" of receipt of the work. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be roused himself from his reverie. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "No, my brougham is waiting." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With some place of shelter and let the county police know what has A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Certainly." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "When did she vanish, then?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you the inquest, and which are worth considering." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." time." wife's character?" "That is not always so easy." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "'And the work?' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the again, where I was soon asleep. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an writing, and yet I know it well." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Where to?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our highly," said Holmes. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "I have solved it." "The best possible." "My dear Holmes!" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Of Friday, June 19th." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, His smile broadened. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" husband's writing, madam." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess is acting for the best. away to you." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of companion quietly. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, morning." meant." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It trifles." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a held up the lantern and gazed about him. about. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of kind enough to tell me what I should do." "But it has twice been burgled." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at http://gutenberg.net/license). "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting you want, then?' "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my your co-operation." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'What then?' I asked. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Was the window open?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the writer." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked papers." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' in his power. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the said he at last. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." asked with his eyes open. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience