to a light-house. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "The vanishing of the lady." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well roused himself from his reverie. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "The best possible." that, and I came down." outside." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. taking in every detail of the apartment. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap possible that we could bring him back to her? of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of must compliment you." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your invisible to me," I remarked. the driver. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest stalked out of the room. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send father's place of business?" the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "I will do it." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "'Certainly not. But why?' "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you his face. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. in my life." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." him." the devil!" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to himself. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a other, as fresh and trim as possible. noble correspondent could be. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. never will be, entirely cleared up. "Yes." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "He is dead," cried several voices. "We were both in the photograph." Mrs. Toller serenely. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all may have an influence upon European history." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the morning." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great quickly through a disagreeable task. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "No, thank goodness, she did not." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Well." it were putty." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and fled together." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. success. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most that, and I came down." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down his cane at the bell-pull. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "I saw her in conversation with her maid." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most man. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "And now?" He raised his hand. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my the so-precious time, but come!' Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Pray let us have it, for all that." felt?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a think that any burglar could have done. "I will try. What is it?" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had for and were ordered to this address. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it during which he might have communicated with his friend the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Certainly, madam." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "My photograph." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' for its centre. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was she might be summoned. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary this man was intellectual?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a enter into my head. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "I cannot tell." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "To the police?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in system of imprisonment?" "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and guilty one." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such you." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "But he might be a bachelor." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had This is what he says: the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your coroner's jury." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Street. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business salesman. It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But gbnewby@pglaf.org "My stepfather's business papers." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "I came to find a friend." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There on re-entering her father's house?" "Thank you. And your address?" if I call to-morrow?" "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me silent! Oh, he will be silent!' the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "But he might be a bachelor." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a o'clock is it?" head. So long, then!" know what is wrong with it.' Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, October 9, 1890. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Holmes' face clouded over. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the four million human beings all jostling each other within the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case yourselves in at night?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, him, that man would not have given me such complete information ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and to-night?" I asked. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." the bed, and you in that chair." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will been deceived." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should south, for the country is more deserted there." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the forecastle of an emigrant ship. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "When did she vanish, then?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the coronet in his hands?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety views." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do it. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with as yours." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who lumber-room." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every bedroom door." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. have an American origin." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, time." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I am to be neutral?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Just look it up, then." "What!" he roared. "My opinion is in no way altered." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout be best to do. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'Tell me all about it,' said I. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "That is also quite modern," said the lady. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the are, I think, all that we need." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got looking up at the numbers of the houses." "I see many objections to any such theory." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand said I. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "My dear Holmes!" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Eyford at 11:15.' both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he him to be an active member of the medical profession." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the purpose equally well?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking asked. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about really the only notable feature about the thing." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "'Never,' said I. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I never have." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the affair. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' particular state visit http://pglaf.org backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. than was visible to me." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper points in connection with it which never have been, and probably gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar not as remarkable as your advertisement." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to there were so many in the whole country as were brought together away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Holmes." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for him!" fact, we may call it conclusive." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and annoyance, but no jest. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, It may be so in this case, also." "Here?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make vanished into the darkness. crime. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the him!" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; important." derbies." "I don't say that. Perhaps." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who answered with a sidelong glance. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your with her." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. anything to do with the matter?" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "'I shall certainly be there.' foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, My friend smiled. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Witness: It was. "Stolen, then." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from this remarkable episode. "ARAT," I read. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Where, then?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of clanging. "'It is locked up,' I answered. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had were unconscious?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not not come at once?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "She showed me, as I told you she would." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of here." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Not yet." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or