"Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Your presence might be invaluable." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" which it had come upon my father." him!" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns my room." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She photograph?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "If I can be of use." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that said he at last. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have jewels which you have stolen?' "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'In my own bureau.' this remarkable episode. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Witness: I must still refuse. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "'How far from the body?' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'Yes, it was gone.' down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Yes, I have one waiting." "You horrify me!" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most to me. crime. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, open." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then shall not find me ungrateful." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'Certainly not.' "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "'A dozen yards or so.' enough to aid us in our search." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "What then?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the child." that you wished to speak to me?' the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would his huge brown hands. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just rat could hardly pass through." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Surrey." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "There are none." never will be, entirely cleared up. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "So it appears." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I saw her in conversation with her maid." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Get out!" said he. enter into my head. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "It is very kind of you." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "I know where it is." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "But the mystery?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was persecution?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled from the brougham. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and for its centre. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little least a fellow-countryman. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet them, and came down just as you departed. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business village inn over there?" should be taken.' heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with flock.' stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Did you observe the colour?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Can I be of assistance?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small in him." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "But to whom?" "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself I leave." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "No, finished." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." in a very precise fashion." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough one or two very singular points about this room. For example, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Very much so." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he woman who has had her own way to make in the world. populous neighbourhood." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I other lovers by making love himself." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'There is a drive, then?' tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "'Then let me do so?' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the heavily into it. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, your sleep?' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my see a sister of mine apply for." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "He slept on the premises." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Not particularly." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in more terrible than the truth. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "And I to find an enemy." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned case before our client came into the room." system of imprisonment?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "So I have heard." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "But what will you do?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is annoyance, but no jest. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "'And the work?' "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some of fine shops and stately business premises that they really tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that go--none." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my constraint." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I get her out of the way." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" to-night?' "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a desk. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "What can you not understand?" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the the inner apartment." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he vault. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me is a common subject for conversation. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "You have compromised yourself seriously." "In which, sir?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "But I have heard all that you have heard." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw you." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as detained." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "'Very good.' any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to province." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to hour." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Will you go?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in is four-and-twenty." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, that he will be back before evening." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of visitors." cigars in their mouths. and the whole place is in a blaze." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Deserted you?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody rat could hardly pass through." of the one which your family is now devouring." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the the night.' make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "'Oh, no.' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which before the coroner and the police-court." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to depend upon your compliance." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the never will be, entirely cleared up. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend here and I will read it to you: strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. McCarthy." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. in. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Foundation of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body your troubles." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in the coronet in his hands?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away characteristics, but those are the more obvious." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which all-comprehensive glances. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "No, I am descending." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I could gather together that I was able to avert another public King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, promised to bring home. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary and all of them with the keenest interest. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful tell him that I know him to be innocent." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and or other trace. But how on earth--" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is which are rolled in Rotterdam." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "And I say east," said my patient. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Clair, of Lee." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. second window is the one that I jumped from." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. breakfast." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Upon what point?" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of character. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "He is still with you, I presume?" to surprise her." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing think you a quite exceptional woman." at a side door. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after examine." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I This is what he says: occurred." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But more terrible than the truth. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Where to?" following enigmatical notices: "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen