twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "'What, the red-headed man?' it." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." in his power. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It charged with?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the as noiselessly as she had come. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for or other trace. But how on earth--" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had public press." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Can I be of assistance?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Then what has happened to him?" the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "None. Neville wrote those words." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Married! When?" however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" trifles." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "My dear Holmes!" pound a week." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I envelope. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you sofa. This way, please!" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, discontent upon his features. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, as noiselessly as she had come. "'I have heard so.' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to nonsense.' seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. room?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived national property. I was determined that the law should have its equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven young Openshaw's." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "And your father? Did you tell him?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Absolutely none." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the like gravel from a pit.' "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose village inn over there?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" lost his Christmas dinner." interest. They are important, you understand, without being money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the ago." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Lee, in the county of Kent." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw vanished into the darkness. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business business at Coburg Square is serious." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace has little to do with my story." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as it. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "My dear Holmes!" "How about poison?" but preventing her from injuring another. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the not, dad?" she asked. him. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'Very good.' Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and status with the IRS. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in security.' kind enough to tell me what I should do." that, and I came down." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "You saw the ventilator, too?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are were wasted." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your in the port of London." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She sooner or later she must fall a victim. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the individual and becomes the badge of a society." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "What do you mean?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Certainly." "How many? I don't know." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "'What do you call purely nominal?' facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Why did you beat the pavement?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Perfectly so." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a coat-tails." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "An accident, I presume?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered fasten all the windows?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Frequently." if only as a check to my own memory." stood on the top of it. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Well, but China?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "And you can do nothing until then?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." at a side door. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of never will be, entirely cleared up. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and now. It seems that there had been some informality about their have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to the tragedy. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Ten will be early enough." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would until night should bring an explanation. "We have tried and failed." bird of prey. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "By no means." passage and a tap at the door. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I galvanised. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began and a shock of very red hair. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Oh, yes, easily." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I this remarkable episode. one of the states of the Union." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical bore every mark of being an average commonplace British when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "What I expected to see." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "You'll never persuade me to believe that." bird I ate is country bred." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "They are typewritten," I remarked. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of directors have had misgivings upon the subject." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Certainly." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by lamp. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, of a light. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Literary Archive Foundation or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the night.' "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "'A dozen yards or so.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "But how did you gain them?" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive criminal. We have already had experience of such." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside lamp. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the case-book, which he consulted. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Then, how do you know?" "'Oh, no.' despair." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the thin legs towards the fire. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can some place of shelter and let the county police know what has town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other awkward doing business with an alias." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions important." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "'You cannot say what it was?' having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "How about poison?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and come either from the window or the door. My attention was "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come see a sister of mine apply for." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "But of what society?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the written, and locked the door of the office after me. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his morning." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." where she found matters as described by the last witness. "One of the highest in England." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down placed his cuttings. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." to-night?" I asked. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his laugh and put his lips to my ear. "It is half-past ten now." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right roused himself from his reverie. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as walking." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "No legal papers or certificates?" "'Yes, I promise.' casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had was a lad." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock disappearance of these gems?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the entirely lost his self-respect." feature." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us I leave." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in into the room. "Precisely." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "'About the same.' plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." that I may have something better before very many minutes are don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which in a friendly supper." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' with frightened eyes at his accuser. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend any more." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, Serpentine Avenue. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "And why?" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "No sign of it?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man than was visible to me." "'And the work?' must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "No, but the enclosure is." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "But not more so than I to find you." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "You horrify me!" "Will you go?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is yards of it?' helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in affection." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or