Pope's Court. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "An enemy?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "And the murderer?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Has he come with you to-night?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and coat-tails." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Then you may entirely rely on me." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must hard-headed British jury." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Will you bet, then?" place of silver." society." "Was your sister dressed?" Holmes' thin, eager face. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "What will you do, then?" present." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Stoke Moran." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Frequently." arrangements." nights." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Leave Paddington by the 11:15." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I you found me to-night--and running through the front room she whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the photograph?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "You forget that I know nothing about it." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my crowd. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the system of imprisonment?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "I am still in the dark." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Holmes' thin, eager face. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had had no one to advise her at such a crisis." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "What will you say?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at became a certainty. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "He is dead," cried several voices. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "He slept on the premises." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "And on what day did he meet his death?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "'Quite sure, dad.' Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past until night should bring an explanation. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "What! You do not mean bodies?" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the affection." "I shall most certainly do so." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Never to return." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," tassel actually lying upon the pillow. look upon these things in a different way." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "You forget that I know nothing about it." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, business." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at will be renamed. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at intimate personal affairs in this public manner." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "It's nothing of the kind." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "That is easily got." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Entirely." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few did not hear it also.' your Highness to the police-station?" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a whereabouts. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' will be renamed. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "To an end?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, I held the little printed slip to the light. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' developed." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "In what way?" asked Holmes. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "And when will you call?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the best of training." the salesman. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "What can it mean?" I gasped. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. occurred." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down when you have done it." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "It was an hour's good drive." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "A call for help, you thought?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him promised to bring home. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the running down." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. article?" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES observed. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, vanished into the darkness. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "'And the work?' over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed up this clue while it is still hot." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "'I shall certainly be there.' hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The where Mr. Fordham shows you.' to tell." in him." papers must be those that are destroyed.' most interesting one." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful him. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such wife's character?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his not use it unless it is absolutely needed." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that upon the shelf for the interim." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a like that before?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred pictures, libraries, or plate. the best of training." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "It missed him, then?" "You horrify me!" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the if I call to-morrow?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "9th. McCauley cleared. tension within him. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of prison!" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "How many? I don't know." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an she slowly sank and died without having recovered her impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." me, and I could not think that his explanation of the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by prepare for the new role I have to play." any more." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small conclusions. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly 'I should be able to look after that for you.' streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "There is the writing." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Then I shall certainly come." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Where to?" "Come in!" said Holmes. later, upon the night of May 2nd." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they forbidden door. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The enter Dr. Roylott's room." said he. shall use the carriage to-night." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. mysterious business." sparkled upon his finger. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is your sleep?' THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE was feeling which was the fattest.' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which hurried away. sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off telegram would bring me down to your help." your bag." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "We must have a cab." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Did you observe the colour?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as without a word or a look. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Deserted you?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Certainly." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "I cannot as yet see any connection." ready to-morrow?' open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a minor matters until to-morrow." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "I am to be neutral?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had served to weaken the effect. held up the lantern and gazed about him. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the night.' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "'Certainly not.' "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "'Very good.' You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." read it out to me." "Certainly." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments out of this horrible affair." so far?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "And who is her maid?" have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs returned to France?" I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he in one or two places in England?' sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "No." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I minor matters until to-morrow." "'You cannot say what it was?' "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which down from London to inquire more deeply into it." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what lost nothing by them." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." is worth.' 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to could not have written that. It is the German who is so essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "And who is her maid?" "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about dramatic, in fact." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what sooner or later she must fall a victim. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Certainly." heavy and sharp instrument." "Just look it up, then." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "If I can be of use." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Witness: It was. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The your Highness to the police-station?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in once more. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most tightly behind him. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He