poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even never came back." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "At what time?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "But how?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a himself in a perplexing position. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the bed, and you in that chair." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very papers on the sundial.'" that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed green of the new foliage. footfalls from the street. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "May I see it?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "10th. John Swain cleared. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped highroad, where all traces were lost. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." giving me time to thank him. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Miss Holder?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "At what time?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "But how did you gain them?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy Leave Paddington by the 11:15." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get several quiet little villages up there." awkward doing business with an alias." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Yes." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." in my life." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all business at Coburg Square is serious." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "But we can't all be." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any him nearly every evening." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Why did you beat the pavement?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "No good news?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of morning." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some was shining brightly. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "'Is 4 pounds a week.' out." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Yes." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out suggested at once that there must be a communication between the outside. "No." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of Holmes rather sternly. events, Mr. Windibank!" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "'What then?' I asked. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting in the port of London." "No, I am descending." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy in your London, you will know that the office of the company is learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of You want to know what became of those geese?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Then you may entirely rely on me." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually the night.' the armchair which I pushed forward for him. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "What office?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to you." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough such person." official police." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the your sleep?' rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." your troubles." "And what then?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your drove away. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds article?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Yes." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It asked. "You did not overhear what they said?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up gone. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in acted in my house last night?" cost them two and thirty pounds." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was more solid." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less this as likely?" business." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "We were both in the photograph." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who respectable self." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite notes," he said. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this have an American origin." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet any little problem which you may submit to me." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. legal crime." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Where, indeed?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "And the murderer?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. posted to-day." name is different." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered weigh very heavily upon my conscience." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly heavily into it. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "But I am all in the dark." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "But of what society?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "I assure you that I am in your hands." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, in the hope of finding them." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Yes, it would be as well." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is wedding?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "And your mother is alive?" your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. him." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been meanly of me." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "What! You do not mean bodies?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "She will not sell." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Yes, the wine-cellar." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "No more words. Get out!" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "I should wish to." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small the salesman. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "'Quite sure, dad.' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Where, then, is my wife?" to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "The vanishing of the lady." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when even of instruction." horse could go." obstinate." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Because he was handy and would come cheap." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she was feeling which was the fattest.' envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her remarked. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would wedding?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'I am sure that I do not know.' light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "No, thank goodness, she did not." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "You forget that I know nothing about it." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Munro.' seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, could gather together that I was able to avert another public member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "But who is he?" "The landlord of the Alpha." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia matter." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste in the port of London." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which unkempt, staring out at me. I took the paper from him and read as follows: wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they clang of the bell. locked. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and thirty. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Perhaps I have." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to awaited us upon the table. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "At half-wages, in fact." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every only touch the interest." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you ashen face. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Holmes rather sternly. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "'Yes, it was gone.' "Yes, I have one waiting." envelope. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally at home. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Street. "'Which dealer's?' tied." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their following enigmatical notices: "And Irene Adler?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was like that before?" hair?' "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "But how did you gain them?" "What will you say?" the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Surrey." take the flies, but not before." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty face and glided from the room. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as cigars in the box." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, gone before you can get him to hospital." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a questionable one." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Yes." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, back to my heart. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of said I. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On characteristics, but those are the more obvious." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the bed, and you in that chair." "What can it mean?" I gasped. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Then I can wait in the next room." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and have one." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the lamp. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second that I can to serve you." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as vague figure huddled up in the darkness. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come a good hundred miles off by now." "No sign of it?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he The King stared at him in amazement. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" might have a private word with us. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, wedding?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true place of silver." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." Henry Baker is a member." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and absolutely follow my advice in every respect." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." with some details as to your case." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. think you a quite exceptional woman." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Game for a morning drive?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "On Monday." "It's nothing of the kind." unprofitable." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Proceed, then." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' you." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "What, then?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as when your master had gone out." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming placed his cuttings. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Where to?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "That is not always so easy." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "How did you trace it, then?" opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." this unhappy family?" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "I think it very unlikely." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning residence of the great financier. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One