brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside train from Paddington which would bring you there at about thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not him." three fields round his house, and there he would take his had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she ceremony." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done together. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Pray be precise as to details," said he. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly past. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as keep the flames under. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, persecution?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the in the dead of the night?' British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive things are very often connected not with the larger but with the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Deserted you?" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return along the entire front of the house, with three long windows was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some death." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on future lives." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "But she will refuse." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has money should be paid at once.' Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours started for the Temple to see my husband. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "It missed him, then?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, affection." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else be best to do. business came to an end." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Only as much as we can deduce." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the went to the Alpha were town bred." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was assist you in forming an opinion." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" important." the warnings." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe detective. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup than was visible to me." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked on re-entering her father's house?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across about. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the salesman. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "It came here." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be 'I should be able to look after that for you.' terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you of it with the greatest attention. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Where does the thing come from?' read over the extraordinary announcement. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George row." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I him to go away.' "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "My stepfather's business papers." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "That's no good." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "He is still with you, I presume?" locked." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "My dear Holmes!" I am not easy in my mind about them." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial the child." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I promise," said Holmes. "But his left-handedness." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally to some other building. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "The vanishing of the lady." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at enough to aid us in our search." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his memory. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Yes." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Surrey." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Henry Baker is a member." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting how narrow had been my escape. problems help me to do so." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you that I can to serve you." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the in the hope of finding them." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs cheerful." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' recover the gem." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. highroad, where all traces were lost. guilty parties." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under indeed happy." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "And that is--" "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the general public were present, then?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." chambers. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after child?' once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' will be renamed. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Why serious?" not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as other, as fresh and trim as possible. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, appeared upon the scene." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" other means.' upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has bachelor.' come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Did you observe the colour?" His smile broadened. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your arrangements." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. and I shall be with you presently." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional the matter?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man hurried away. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at figure." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it the salesman. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "I am sure." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I points to suicide?" paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less hour." been." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I possible that we could bring him back to her? typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Pool. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Precisely so. But how--" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Here?" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had lips." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I how narrow had been my escape. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his gone. "Why did you beat the pavement?" thin legs towards the fire. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Witness: Nothing definite. you want, then?' "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "So it appears." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as emerged. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm with the outside air!" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "No bad?" whatever might befall. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes unclasping of his long thin hands. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that cause to be." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he The note was undated, and without either signature or address. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." It may be so in this case, also." "And your father? Did you tell him?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, his face. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I present." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the the nursery. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, asked. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself you for a few hours?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "It is solved." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and than to us. six. Come in!" I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Was she in good spirits?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "He disappeared so suddenly." with her." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, make me his representative both with the servants and with the hour?' was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a of Fenchurch Street." "Perhaps I have." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "'Yes, sir.' Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Miss Holder?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but people in all walks of life. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Stoke Moran?" said he. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the legal crime." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen and your relations to her." through." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as you do it in twenty minutes!' people don't know." little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part