impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "And how did you verify them?" everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram evidence," I remarked. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of any more." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "Witness: Nothing definite. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and this man was intellectual?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the stones. "In answer to an advertisement." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised cigar and let me expound." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Then, how do you know?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, several quiet little villages up there." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If I took the paper from him and read as follows: "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, shoulder; "he's all right." all-comprehensive glances. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for how narrow had been my escape. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "No?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Yes, that is the Crown." and inquire as to the address." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life will be renamed. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Yes. He waved his hands." he. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, one's self under obligations.' Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Stolen, then." "'Ten to two.' "Here?" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project hopeless attempt at recovering them." The King stared at him in amazement. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was to-night?' "But you can know nothing of this?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Awake, Watson?" he asked. as yours." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in My friend smiled. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I dead, shall be safe with us." "'In my own bureau.' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and perplexity from it to my illustrious client. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned door?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "You saw the ventilator, too?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "You were travelling in the States?" and a shock of very red hair. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out particular state visit http://pglaf.org However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. said he. "Precisely." the very morning of the wedding." helping a boy to put up the shutters. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "No sign of it?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how notes," he said. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." flock.' the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his footfalls from the street. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'As governess?' "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a lids now and glanced across at his visitor. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the crowd. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his respectable self." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "'Is purely nominal.' I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which upon the shelf for the interim." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "'Ample.' in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Game for a morning drive?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, the roots. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Certainly." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "You are all wrong." even so self-evident a thing as that." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to problems help me to do so." "And how in the world did you find them?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is was a loud and authoritative tap. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Entirely." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the his face. "Texas, I think." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold fuss that is made over them." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had anything to do with the matter?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an people don't know." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "But what is it you wish?" his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had when your master had gone out." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, thin legs towards the fire. "And for present expenses?" way in." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Holmes, the busybody!" the address that was given us in the advertisement. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." IS several quiet little villages up there." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Absolutely none." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Won't it ring?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of get her out of the way." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw has little to do with my story." "A client, then?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I crime. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been so.' THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from at my own good fortune. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Yes." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to the armchair which I pushed forward for him. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Have you her photograph?" "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the go from here to the Strand." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle digesting their breakfasts at home." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the looking up at the numbers of the houses." status with the IRS. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an learned something! Where are the gems?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which second window is the one that I jumped from." "No, thank goodness, she did not." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "I am following you closely," I answered. "On Monday." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Then what has happened to him?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still as yours." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out clanging. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "'What, the red-headed man?' knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been indeed happy." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in ourselves in the office." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking have I gained?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" his face. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our must be when I saw the door open.' "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is noting anything else of interest. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Literary Archive Foundation "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to extraordinary contortions. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Did he not advertise?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as easy-going way." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "And you don't know his address?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of kind enough to tell me what I should do." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. gbnewby@pglaf.org of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. notes," he said. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is orange pips. recover the gem." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the a very grave face. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be and effective." as the one I chose?' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of companion quietly. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net address. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a room had already been engaged for us. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera better in every way that they should make their position a little simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is outside." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this enough to aid us in our search." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "The best possible." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend points in connection with it which never have been, and probably obstinate." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Eyford at 11:15.' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love read it out to me." and put his glass in his pocket. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." very old mansion. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Why did you pick him?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Precisely." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "What! You do not mean bodies?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Then you may entirely rely on me." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to-night's adventure." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "ARAT," I read. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "The decline of his fortunes, then?" your billet.' whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" bird of prey. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "'How far from the body?' "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what cheerful." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not my former friend and companion. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the the general public were present, then?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a