"Is it possible?" gasped the banker. bell. Holmes whistled. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what seen the man in the road." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "My own seal." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger II. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "And why?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "There are none." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly invisible to me," I remarked. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to delighted to hear it," he said. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad depend upon my doing so.' you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a From what you have told me I think that it is possible that lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "None." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Never to return." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy absorbing." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the dangers which encompass me." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." that you can jump it.' "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the least a fellow-countryman. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their child?' round with crates and massive boxes. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "I cannot tell." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "No, my brougham is waiting." see a sister of mine apply for." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from forecastle of an emigrant ship. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, depend upon my doing so.' in his power. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they nonsense.' for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "What will you do, then?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "But what harm can there be in that?" "It is true that I have been generally successful." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "I will, Miss Turner." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction him and tried to hold him back. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of said he. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may ready to-morrow?' and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Where is it, then?" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to maiden herself was most instructive." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "It looks newer than the other things?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "I am to be neutral?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Ample." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell said Mr. Holder. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was know all about it," he snarled. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor congenial hunt. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'Most admirably.' have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Did you become engaged then?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found meanly of me." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his too. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took His name is Francis Prosper." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him answer." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "But not more so than I to find you." should be so warm over such a trifle." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ manager. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to place no limit on the sum I may draw." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my a room. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Yes, all." "So I heard. You have him here?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything gbnewby@pglaf.org should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the late!' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back question," said Holmes, smiling. call it cruel." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Dirty?" "I came to find a friend." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Will you go?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Well." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "I cannot tell." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "This photograph!" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "It must be recovered." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'Very good.' have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my voice, changing her seat as requested. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." remarked. "I shall most certainly do so." it with his own hands." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that London for the present?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." with the outside air!" which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my go--none." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "One?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon the house with me." "How many? I don't know." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "By no means." detained." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that already been minutely examined." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to them?" hand, madam?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton congenial hunt. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "The Cedars?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." comes from the middle window." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of will not take me long to tell. "And how?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" system of imprisonment?" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have were unconscious?" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "And who is her maid?" "'What, the red-headed man?' has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I never came back." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I tell me that you intended to go into harness." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Precisely." "How do you know, then?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father question you as to those details which seem to me to be most foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Stoke Moran." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "By no means." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "I would pay ten." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in which our visitor detailed to us. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "To an end?" light and attacked it." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said enter into my head. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "But you were on a friendly footing?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his everything which you would wish to know." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "And your father? Did you tell him?" beyond words. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the address that was given us in the advertisement. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves lectures into a series of tales." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among arrested. You then--" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the matter." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "He might." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Precisely so. But how--" was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had placed his cuttings. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without and no precautions can guard against." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman fish-monger and a tide-waiter." Sutherland?" "What can you not understand?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had straighten it?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Not particularly." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the http://gutenberg.net/license). reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as wedding?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping papers must be those that are destroyed.' it. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Well, it is a possible supposition." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. emerged. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of to-morrow." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "What will you say?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "How long did she speak to this Alice?" telegram would bring me down to your help." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, room?" man. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of what I may call a really hard day's work." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser like that before?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. Eyford at 11:15.' or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that public press." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in the armchair which I pushed forward for him. DISSOLVED. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to some place of shelter and let the county police know what has fatally injured? "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you my room." before, for it was considerably after midnight. rat could hardly pass through." open." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "To an English lawyer named Norton." friend's singular character. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "What, then?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It row." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Yes, certainly." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and approach us with offers to donate. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight it." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." guilty parties." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next young Openshaw's." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are employed my morning, or what I ended by doing."