"Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. straighten it?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I said I. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity outside." you want, then?' about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Dr. Becher's." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a way in." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "If I can be of use." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Really! You surprise me." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of really the only notable feature about the thing." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events miles off. fat-encircled eyes. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was was already answered. "But his left-handedness." seven miles from Eyford Station.' astonishment. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "I answered that I had not. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered it with his own hands." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote again." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not in my life." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "No legal papers or certificates?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest very old mansion. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his stood on the top of it. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock your troubles." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Here?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant For additional contact information: downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Nothing?" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I that I may have something better before very many minutes are importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "I saw her in conversation with her maid." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Nothing." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An indiscretion." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "We were both in the photograph." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your bill, which interests me deeply." His smile broadened. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "But I have heard all that you have heard." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at everything which you would wish to know." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, grasp, he hurried from the room. like that before?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and seen the man in the road." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious of." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang maid will bring up your coffee." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is on in his house." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "My last client of the sort was a king." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "I would give my fortune to have them back." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "None." "'There is a drive, then?' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. eat it." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. for securing the situation." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But sparkled upon his finger. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, stood on the top of it. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." green of the new foliage. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John over with notes and figures. "Get out!" said he. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Does that suggest anything?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & your sleep?' fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "'Ten to two.' can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical call it cruel." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the front of me. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." other means.' there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and But Holmes shook his head gravely. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Yes." sooner or later she must fall a victim. License. You must require such a user to return or is acting for the best. up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." your bag." "'It is locked up,' I answered. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in thirty. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Nearly eleven." on in his house." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "But she will refuse." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." that threaten you." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. know that the truth is known." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in has little to do with my story." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take things are very often connected not with the larger but with the one of them." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." only touch the interest." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest DISSOLVED. been shamefully used." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the roots. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and upon the sideboard." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Holmes. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Then you may entirely rely on me." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a tail." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than such attractions and accomplishments?' she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "To an English lawyer named Norton." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the feature." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking quickly through a disagreeable task. "Absolutely none." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "I am to be neutral?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "And Miss Sutherland?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from straighten it?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Proceed, then." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless strength in the others." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down long narrative. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my never came back." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal which was all perfectly true. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Yes, he did." "Quite so." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I to take care of herself." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying tell them apart.' them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very people don't know." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "'Yes, it was gone.' "My photograph." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, voice, changing her seat as requested. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not individual and becomes the badge of a society." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "It is a murder, then?" peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "And it is--" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a respectable self." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "'Certainly,' I answered. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. I am not easy in my mind about them." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Ample." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "That is easily got." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the side-table." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. sneer upon his pale face. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again house for five minutes.' Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Thank you. Pray proceed." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to at a side door. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "I have seen the police." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was have accepted such a situation. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "I don't say that. Perhaps." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our beg that you will break it off." all that?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms money should be paid at once.' away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." was keenly on my guard against him. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the in his hands." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew as noiselessly as she had come. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "In answer to an advertisement." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & less than 26s. 4d. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and about here speaks of his kindness to him." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Yes." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr.