order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered criminal. We have already had experience of such." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the villagers almost as much as their master. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Do you go out much in society?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Dr. Becher's." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There 1.F. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is and that he would see to anything that turned up. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Very truly yours, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time train from Paddington which would bring you there at about this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "I cannot imagine." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. think that any burglar could have done. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "I don't say that. Perhaps." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one persecution?" roused himself from his reverie. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid answer." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper key turn in the lock." business." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "And did you observe any change in her then?" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little intrusion of other matters." room?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "'Yes.' "He said too much." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Yes." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white if only as a check to my own memory." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the his cane at the bell-pull. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Yes. He waved his hands." few hundred pounds.' the bottom.' were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "She told me to ask you." Holmes. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and all?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose appeal." floor. "What have you to say now?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money confronted him. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing hand, madam?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of you in yours." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front strong and stiff." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser she might be summoned. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Your sister is dead, then?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Never to return." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "What, then, did Peterson do?" conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "We were both in the photograph." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be o'clock is it?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "It certainly sounds feasible." minor matters until to-morrow." heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate child?' of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "My photograph." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure here." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at crackling voice. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "'I shall certainly be there.' details." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "I am about to be married." how narrow had been my escape. "What! a murderous attack?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Yes, certainly." "It must be recovered." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we know that the truth is known." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the house with me." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man the nursery. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. against a man in the prime of life?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door chance." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he the coronet at all injured?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, in his hands." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Only as much as we can deduce." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep you in your example." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I shall most certainly do so." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary salesman. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite salesman. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & made his money." amused." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of your Highness to the police-station?" before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "You did not overhear what they said?" villagers almost as much as their master. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the the house with me." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and populous neighbourhood." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. gbnewby@pglaf.org see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, had a long day." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "But not more so than I to find you." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and client, rising. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of stalked out of the room. "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks the salesman. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "'Not at all. I only doubt--' be best to do. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face acted in my house last night?" crime." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper I nodded again. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Pope's Court. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. the south-west, I see." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "And it is--" whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, 11:15.' ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they jewels which you have stolen?' said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other neither fascinating nor artistic." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the bill, which interests me deeply." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." of them has the shutters up.' but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and then?" and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a do you make of it all?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is orange pips. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal read it out to me." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Well." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given which we had just quitted. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of presented more singular features than that which was associated The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while generous with you in money matters.' of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple is a common subject for conversation. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the rose-bushes. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled are windows in it, of course?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her formed some opinion?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "None." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "But I am all in the dark." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been second window is the one that I jumped from." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of fattened it expressly for you.' thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Then you may entirely rely on me." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "On your arm?" "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "If I can be of use." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both other means.' "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Thank you. And your address?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? been deceived." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" intrusion of other matters." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' started for the Temple to see my husband. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "None." there is a decided draught." "Not particularly." been shamefully used." the side-table." matters immensely." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and of a light. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Who was the criminal, then?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope weigh very heavily upon my conscience." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both