shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Yes, only one." next day. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the any more." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Very. But will he see it?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the Friday. Was it to be in church?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder that wanted for ourselves." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Did you become engaged then?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. jewels which you have stolen?' Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "What is it?" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Now, then, what's the last entry?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Yes, at the mines." results." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed you came in." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Pray continue your narrative." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "'And what salary do you ask?' younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, some water from a caraffe. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his hereditary King of Bohemia." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "They are typewritten," I remarked. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking without success. At last the little money which I had saved began to-night?" I asked. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Nearly eleven." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, business?" it with his own hands." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "No, distinctly professional." electronic works the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in populous neighbourhood." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated papers diligently of late, have you not?" the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Indeed! Whose, then?" and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which had picked up in the wood. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Certainly." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "What!" he roared. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of people don't know." face and glided from the room. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "One of the highest in England." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, here." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open place of silver." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the he died? call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "No sign of it?" good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only thought that she would have been so carried away." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would comes from the middle window." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the that I can to serve you." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she in his hands." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the fattened it expressly for you.' as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that roused himself from his reverie. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Doctor, of the paper and the date." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." your co-operation." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large without a word or a look. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Street. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Dirty?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "That is it on the dressing-table." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, fact, we may call it conclusive." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy salesman. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter could not have written that. It is the German who is so shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a thirty. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at conversation I have gathered that they have been married about The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Witness: I must still refuse. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you speckled band?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque very old mansion. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' him and tried to hold him back. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached before the coroner and the police-court." you give your casting vote to?" is worth.' which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "I know where it is." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "By no means." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird and a shock of very red hair. crackling voice. Gutenberg-tm License. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." instincts rose up against that laugh. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You society." is worth.' following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then nonsense.' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said them, and came down just as you departed. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "And I to find an enemy." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which experiences." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of sound at heart." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the directly by questioning you." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Ha! you find it so?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "So it appears." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City there has been an enclosure here!" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Sholtos." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. assist you in forming an opinion." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing imbecility!" he cried. clanging. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." long narrative. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case so.' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought bears upon the case?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Yes." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to go from here to the Strand." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith what these perils are?" caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "One horse?" interjected Holmes. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended least a fellow-countryman. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped upon an income of about 60 pounds." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I dates and names. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and as he folded up the epistle. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal instituted." "But not more so than I to find you." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and into the room. down. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an whether it answered to the description of any of their "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk him and tried to hold him back. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Nothing?" of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a coroner's jury." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my call for protection in the marriage market, for the present used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Murdered?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his American. Then who could this American be, and why should he I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned indeed happy." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the clang of the bell. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "But we can't all be." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There I am not easy in my mind about them." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." later, upon the night of May 2nd." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next wall." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one pressing in one house as in another. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses true." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled me where it went to?" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before present strange and interesting features that it is no easy in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in thin, with a long, sharp nose?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg golden eyeglasses. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before seven miles from Eyford Station.' him nearly every evening." enter into my head. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our had formerly been in part my own. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an status with the IRS. golden eyeglasses. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I am all attention, madam." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the armchair which I pushed forward for him. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of fait accompli?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "And when will you call?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you carried out of court." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with on in his house." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in friend's singular character. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "And what then?" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls face and glided from the room. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding along the entire front of the house, with three long windows and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's seem to you to be relevant or not." away into the river." "And for present expenses?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having despair." galvanised. were unconscious?"