"He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'Yes, it was gone.' absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "But how could you guess what the motive was?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "What do you make of that, Watson?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." next day. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was man. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me and capable of preserving a secret.' and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? For additional contact information: and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the delirious. "He disappeared so suddenly." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." outbreak?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." your own bird, so if you wish--" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to read it out to me." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Holmes, the busybody!" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by The King stared at him in amazement. "You know me, then?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray should be taken.' the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "But how?" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Holmes, the busybody!" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "But how did you gain them?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "I will try. What is it?" Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal walking." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "The knees of his trousers." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "'I shall certainly be there.' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man brain must have something in it." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He distinguish the words: I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed a suggestive one." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive overpowering excitement and concern. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew over part of the map. "What do you read?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in anything to a woman, for she would have her way." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate really the only notable feature about the thing." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may returned to France?" "There are none." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my new duties?' this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended business came to an end." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I am sure." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Come in!" said he. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly particular state visit http://pglaf.org following enigmatical notices: slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Yes." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may voice, changing her seat as requested. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did generous with you in money matters.' morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in walking." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. indeed which he could not unravel. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. entirely devoid of interest." purpose of examination. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, indeed happy." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "And your mother is alive?" before the coroner and the police-court." did not hear it also.' of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to my secret was safe in his possession. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "No, distinctly professional." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the this man was intellectual?" "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'What would be the hours?' I asked. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll instincts rose up against that laugh. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "We were both in the photograph." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Certainly." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' said he at last. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "That is it on the dressing-table." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for your own bird, so if you wish--" assist you in forming an opinion." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Here?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own that the gas is not laid on in his house?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Absolutely none." "But you can know nothing of this?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "What of the rat, then?" "And how?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for lips." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the it." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "You have but to name it." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the station." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered himself to tell his story. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but might have a private word with us. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always I took the paper from him and read as follows: 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "How often?" fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "No." Again Holmes raved in the air. It may be so in this case, also." which we had just quitted. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. is worth.' garden below. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" lips." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar his face which made him a very different person to the round, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not she might be summoned. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it I. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. I nodded to show that I had heard. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses could gather together that I was able to avert another public About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "I don't believe it." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Precisely." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." notes," he said. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "And the murderer?" the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else clang of the bell. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a one's self under obligations.' married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Dark enough and sinister enough." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a developed." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, are windows in it, of course?" down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "It must be recovered." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "But to whom?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "BALLARAT." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added at my remark. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat you give your casting vote to?" august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most floor. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Pray continue your narrative." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. business?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "It is no ordinary one." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the felt the room to be a little close.' "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled late!' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Dark enough and sinister enough." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea chance." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." disappearance of the bride.'" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Certainly." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "And is that all?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Well?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good opened a pocket-book and took out a note. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the arrangements." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened Holmes' thin, eager face. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your becomes even more simple." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the night.' "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting 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 while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "How often?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "No. His orders were to stay in the house." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower