reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home then?" itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not lumber-room." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' to you." his face which made him a very different person to the round, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a yourselves in at night?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be dates and names. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that nonsense.' stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" felt?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I would give my fortune to have them back." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I was lame." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Perhaps I have." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the morning." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his Lestrade of Scotland Yard." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his McCarthy's innocence. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an not as remarkable as your advertisement." miles off. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and peculiar to him. him. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished envelope. "By all means." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. have one." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this any little problem which you may submit to me." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded dear old homesteads?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "I say that I have solved it." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then and shall probably return to London by the evening train." carpenter." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Then, as to money?" "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the straighten it?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for hurried by. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Holmes' room. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" hour." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to you." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn unkempt, staring out at me. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "My Mary? Impossible!" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have you, my dear young lady?' see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Really! You surprise me." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "No. His orders were to stay in the house." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "But what is it you wish?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural straighten it?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, prison!" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! of them has the shutters up.' question. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the business." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Very. But will he see it?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. which it had come upon my father." cigar and let me expound." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and bore every mark of being an average commonplace British servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Very much so." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of weighed down with some great anxiety. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air do.' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out my friend's incisive reasoning. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul late." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps leave you to your papers for a little." nights." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about speckled band?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have conceal it?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "In heaven's name, what for?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, papers." "The knees of his trousers." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Chief Executive and Director yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "But she will refuse." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "The best possible." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' What do you deduce from it?" police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a was already answered. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the advice." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Yesterday." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "And when will you call?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then sneer upon his pale face. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood you." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a ready to-morrow?' "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "And how in the world did you find them?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the might help us?" signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two quickly through a disagreeable task. during that time.' or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "What can you not understand?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Then I shall certainly come." Farm upon the left." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without subject to the trademark license, especially commercial inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that done what I asked you, Jones?" came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if second window is the one that I jumped from." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through compunction about shooting them down." "BALLARAT." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I digesting their breakfasts at home." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Where did he live, then?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "What do you mean?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Where, then, is my wife?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We tell them apart.' slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. should be taken.' clang of the bell. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "By train from Waterloo." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "'What then?' I asked. The summons was a brief and urgent one. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, question you as to those details which seem to me to be most an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "You forget that I know nothing about it." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would second." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. man. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an four million human beings all jostling each other within the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the that, and I came down." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by easy-going way." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour to-morrow." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in gone. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "'Which dealer's?' "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "I will do it." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the date of his supposed suicide." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my of campaign. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who there were one or two details which were new to me. But the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to of it with the greatest attention. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "That was it, sir." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in colour had been driven from his face. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge one else, I think." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of that?' for its centre. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came once more. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, heavily into it. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." business came to an end." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my never to learn it at all." "And now?" I asked. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Holmes, the busybody!" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely more terrible than the truth. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was It was close upon four before the door opened, and a half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and to-morrow." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Where is it, then?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was