"'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to fear." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the acquaintance?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. straightened it out again. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "The knees of his trousers." matter." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be of campaign. would then never go into court at all." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy occurred." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so highly," said Holmes. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Married! When?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you call for it in person on Monday morning.' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties man. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "The King of Scandinavia." arrested. You then--" then?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in it." "It's nothing of the kind." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Not in the least." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "'Stolen!' he cried. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted awkward doing business with an alias." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "'Yes, sir.' this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Game for a morning drive?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "'Is 4 pounds a week.' It may be so in this case, also." that you saw all that I did." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped thin, with a long, sharp nose?" down. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the room while you explain this matter?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the wife's character?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where I nodded again. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Holmes' face clouded over. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "How about poison?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "'Ample.' hair?' tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "'Yes, sir.' keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing to a light-house. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you and I shall be with you presently." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Quite so." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "I see many objections to any such theory." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the enter into my head. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the night.' erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so said I. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'Yes, I promise.' my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp absolutely follow my advice in every respect." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know to tackle the facts." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." questioning and rather startled gaze. helping a boy to put up the shutters. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely it? Did I buy the geese off you?" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the I shall continue with my miserable story. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the power." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "It surprised me." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, my room." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." breakfast." past. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon conduct the inquiry." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a away in different directions, and I went off to make my own how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture the matter." keep the flames under. sound at heart." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "'Which dealer's?' occupations.' this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as side. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback wall." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the room while you explain this matter?" friends, not even his own brother. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so your own bird, so if you wish--" "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "'Quite sure, dad.' description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "We have tried and failed." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Certainly, madam." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "None." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action said he. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "If so, much may have happened between." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and impression behind it as though a window had gently closed position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" minor matters until to-morrow." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven clanging. the stones. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful taking in every detail of the apartment. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I heavily into it. seem to you to be relevant or not." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Then you may entirely rely on me." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "None." "What office?" again on its way. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some thin, with a long, sharp nose?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man a little more before I quite committed myself. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always forbidden door. one of them." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Look there!" said he. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the better grown goose." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a in the port of London." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia so.' problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Then what has happened to him?" several quiet little villages up there." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped manager. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in man. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly back to my heart. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. the coronet in his hands?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "What office?" "Where to?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with yourselves in at night?" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe seen the man in the road." the coronet at all injured?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "In San Francisco, a year ago." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the little opening for the ventilator is." head. So long, then!" "What have you to say now?" least a fellow-countryman. McCarthy." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he province." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my had picked up in the wood. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard not, dad?" she asked. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Then I am your man." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There looking up at the numbers of the houses." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "It certainly sounds feasible." and I shall be with you presently." companion quietly. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do interest. They are important, you understand, without being upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in with her." "That is not always so easy." his knees, staring into the fire. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send been shamefully used." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the strength of mind to control. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He sofa. This way, please!" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "I should like to see him very much." wife's character?" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "To an end?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of of the vacancies.' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." were new raised from a basin. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "What?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet that the gas is not laid on in his house?" upon the shelf for the interim." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'And the work?' hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "'I am sure that I do not know.' down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the I leave." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Your presence might be invaluable." "'Ten to two.' evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in married her." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have cause to be." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to has little to do with my story." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Sholtos." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "No. What a strange idea!" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "It was." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you people don't know." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a assist you in forming an opinion." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his fish-monger and a tide-waiter." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate