eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" points to suicide?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in and looked back. security.' head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that his huge brown hands. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "So I heard. You have him here?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "This photograph!" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "When did she vanish, then?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "No." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness his face which made him a very different person to the round, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of danger is over." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client hardly wander." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. nonsense.' rat could hardly pass through." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as your troubles." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the enough to aid us in our search." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life closing the door. the inquest, and which are worth considering." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Was there a secret marriage?" the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is conduct the inquiry." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three he. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the distinguish the words: "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Did he not advertise?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by emerged. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the happened." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Nothing." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "You horrify me." "It's nothing of the kind." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was What do you deduce from it?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, entirely devoid of interest." "I do." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece dead, shall be safe with us." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Yesterday." seen the man in the road." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return have not had my rubber." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with might help us?" entirely devoid of interest." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here seen the man in the road." door?" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few geese which you supplied to the Alpha." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "The knees of his trousers." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "He disappeared so suddenly." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the emerged. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." child?' occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event politicians who had been sent down from the North. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards do." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." enough to aid us in our search." "What are they?" wanted for ourselves." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "By no means." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes said he. discontent upon his features. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "And Miss Sutherland?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, spare." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit brandy and water within his reach. "Entirely." corner of the building. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the until night should bring an explanation. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'Certainly not. But why?' half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to to change my dress. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Yes, he did." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "'You doubt its value?' he asked. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He as this. Pray let me have the details." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "And now?" He raised his hand. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway know what is wrong with it.' "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he away into the river." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'And the work?' my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut you understand?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce cheerful." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be bachelor.' afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it dates and names. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "It is possible." man. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you papers diligently of late, have you not?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." good-night and bustled off upon her way. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. your room." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "My dear Holmes!" girl said." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to went to the Alpha were town bred." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Have you it here?" lectures into a series of tales." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "No, my brougham is waiting." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Literary Archive Foundation prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning again on its way. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my voice. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the himself in a perplexing position. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Then you may be so with me." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "None." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance your Highness to the police-station?" "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the matter." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "So I have heard." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose sentimental considerations in the background which would induce simple cases which are so extremely difficult." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I eat it." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you on re-entering her father's house?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Where does the thing come from?' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "You saw the ventilator, too?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet most important business. It is probable that he will be away all o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Certainly." "Yes." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "The best possible." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such good-night and bustled off upon her way. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "Not I." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "I should be immensely obliged to you." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way companion. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a matter over." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' as the one I chose?' his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the handed it to him. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day morning." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a for the market.' the best of training." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I is a common subject for conversation. that I can to serve you." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Then you may be so with me." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed burst out into a roar of laughter. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very to tell." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Dirty?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found out of this horrible affair." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with developed." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. thin legs towards the fire. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "How on earth--" I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "And how in the world did you find them?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I cannot say that I have." confronted him. "It is his hat." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "He is still with you, I presume?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of that you wished to speak to me?' a good hundred miles off by now." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been closely." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there eavesdroppers?' speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, threw himself down with his face to the pillow. the coronet in his hands?" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "'Certainly not. But why?' was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and straightened it out again. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." showing my impatience. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in opened a pocket-book and took out a note. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study fluttered off among the others. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own was keenly on my guard against him. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had