not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Why did you pick him?" of the vacancies.' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got What do you deduce from it?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being I took the paper from him and read as follows: "You'll never persuade me to believe that." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "And how did you verify them?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." true." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Edgeware Road. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; nonsense.' position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each remarked. dead, shall be safe with us." daring than any effort of the imagination." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. them?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the despaired of." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was upon the shelf for the interim." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and morning." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp breakfast?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a salesman. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock address. "Yes." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I cannot imagine." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our some terrible trap for her." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "'As governess?' treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always I took the paper from him and read as follows: of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his possible that we could bring him back to her? thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must and laid it on the table. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no legal crime." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Very truly yours, The police have openly confessed that they can at present make and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal instincts rose up against that laugh. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set had this final quarrel? claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." I was concerned in it." you?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out God! What an exposure! What can I do?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "How did you trace it, then?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which she has been waylaid. There has been no result." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our amused." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. flock.' "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home into her hand at the door and which lured her within their much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Sholtos." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some delighted to hear it," he said. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to long narrative. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking characteristics, but those are the more obvious." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "I am in hopes that she does." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and had picked up in the wood. foot. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This face and glided from the room. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows the address that was given us in the advertisement. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "A thing like a cleaver," said he. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "What of the rat, then?" signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Then the page we have seen--" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Well, it is a possible supposition." "He said that you could solve anything." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and stepfather?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he clang of the bell. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we meant it for the best. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is good-night and bustled off upon her way. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything what do you think they found in the pockets?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what Edgeware Road. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his bonnet, and went out." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the of." "And the cigar-holder?" am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I to where he stood hid behind the curtain. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Yes." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. the side-table." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps the very morning of the wedding." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a simple cases which are so extremely difficult." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "Was your sister dressed?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was I leave." be.' office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming opportunities to fix the problem. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal things are very often connected not with the larger but with the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "To the police?" unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" had picked up in the wood. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it existence." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. eat it." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Clair, of Lee." "What do you make of that, Watson?" to arrive at through this?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She is acting for the best. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "You are all wrong." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "To the police?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the cheerful." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and washing it down with a long draught of water. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Farm upon the left." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" had picked up in the wood. "And help." that there was nothing in it, after all." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being wanted for ourselves." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Holmes' face clouded over. "By no means." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had asked. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to writers could invent nothing more crude." shaken than I had ever seen him. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I good-night and bustled off upon her way. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, there when the Rucastles went away." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at of receipt of the work. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me existence." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "He said that you could solve anything." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit peculiar to him. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross to-night?' stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And business matters.' "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late status with the IRS. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Witness: I must still refuse. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "And how did you find out?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, them, and came down just as you departed. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up writer." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, him to be an active member of the medical profession." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, that he has suffered." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had corner of the building. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the back alive. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with down in his armchair and closing his eyes. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the one as in the other." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently all-comprehensive glances. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend approach us with offers to donate. "It's nothing of the kind." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted murdered man." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark you do it in twenty minutes!' "No." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "And how in the world did you find them?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. was shining brightly. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Eh? What was that?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." 11:15.' purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in had formerly been in part my own. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Munro.' "'Stolen!' he cried. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, it." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom through." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut she slowly sank and died without having recovered her appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the my special province."