where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are their singular warning or token before them when starting upon helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Do you go out much in society?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great some mystery and the punishment of some crime." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their of note-paper. It read in this fashion: unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. were wasted." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "But I am all in the dark." Surrey." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, strode off upon his way. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most hurried by. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Nor running a chance of arrest?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and hopeless attempt at recovering them." do.' aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Then how many are there?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she so.' "Only as much as we can deduce." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself you." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his look dissatisfied." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "May I see it?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "I think that I had better go, Holmes." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself note?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "What have you to say now?" him nearly every evening." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold this as likely?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to hopeless attempt at recovering them." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length we went to search for him, face downward in a little Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built maiden herself was most instructive." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, not personally threatened." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not felt the room to be a little close.' which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "'I have already given you my word.' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran ago." in a friendly supper." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Who by?" "I will try. What is it?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "But I have heard all that you have heard." in his hands." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" have been better. It is all right." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the weary and pale-looking. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Proceed, then." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' he. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. meanly of me." Leadenhall Street--and--" you." for the market.' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "You think that he is dead?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner shaken than I had ever seen him. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of where she found matters as described by the last witness. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we helping a boy to put up the shutters. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small keep the flames under. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Nothing." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, the coroner come to?" correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he ordinary clothes on?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it there!' "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Was your sister dressed?" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not direction." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "So I have heard." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Yes." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. and that he would see to anything that turned up. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said disturbance in my wife." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Then the page we have seen--" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in London for the present?" pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Nothing." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his secret." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "And why?" It may be so in this case, also." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow sofa. This way, please!" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a to take care of herself." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition outside." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn putting in the horse. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I if only as a check to my own memory." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution served to weaken the effect. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have you." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little so.' prisoner's face. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he be best to do. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His what do you think they found in the pockets?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming remarked. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It digesting their breakfasts at home." The events in question occurred in the early days of my four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Precisely." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." Holmes' face clouded over. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old together. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "But you would not advise me to refuse?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael chamber." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the devil!" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, coat-tails." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Where did he live, then?" "'Which dealer's?' I took the paper from him and read as follows: my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment very morning of my second wedding." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, lips." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Entirely." gives a meaning to it." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from had no one to advise her at such a crisis." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Eyford at 11:15.' post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "And what did you see?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which records." "No, finished." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "I am following you closely," I answered. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the 'please.'" to surprise her." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian row." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked hour." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great of the vacancies.' fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this carpenter." obstinate." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Then I am your man." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Were they all fastened this morning?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Where, then, is my wife?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Her father is very rich?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as States. "'What do you call purely nominal?' this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" his face which made him a very different person to the round, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man drove away. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four crackling voice. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap His name is Francis Prosper." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." written. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very one's self under obligations.' his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "From his hat?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously of campaign. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Yes." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Married! When?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we you in yours." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and direction." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to information in his hands the value of which he did not himself passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of there in twenty minutes." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here hereditary King of Bohemia." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my shall not find me ungrateful." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "'Yes, sir.' "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Yes, the wine-cellar." allusion to a rat. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I characteristics, but those are the more obvious." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made which our visitor detailed to us. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the details should find their way into the papers. Inspector is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "And from a noble client?" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his her also." the coronet at all injured?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "You know me, then?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "The murder was done with it." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an you give your casting vote to?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "But she will refuse." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the fattened it expressly for you.' business at Coburg Square is serious." this Miss Turner." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." in this note: lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "The decline of his fortunes, then?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that not fit the lock." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Then how many are there?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he Dr. Gregory B. Newby unclasping of his long thin hands. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the wedding?" "The vanishing of the lady." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with the coronet in his hands?" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was