remarked. be sorry for having acted so harshly." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Look there!" said he. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "And that is--" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if better grown goose." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Oh, fresh and glossy." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Holmes' face clouded over. was keenly on my guard against him. soul! here is her carriage at the door." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. http://www.gutenberg.net from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "My dear Holmes!" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "And the cigar-holder?" the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. I shall communicate with you." ourselves in the office." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, it. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of flock.' to me. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was learned something! Where are the gems?" front of me. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "'Entirely.' attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "Here?" always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will as noiselessly as she had come. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions returned to France?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so have accepted such a situation. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "How did you deduce the select?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "If so, much may have happened between." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "My private note-paper." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that said he. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'I am sure that I do not know.' DISSOLVED. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. events than those which have happened in my own family." later, upon the night of May 2nd." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their likely to be some crony of the landlady's." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Street. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' touch that coronet?' gone. "It is his hat." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst my secret was safe in his possession. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I the warnings." to tackle the facts." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "'Very good.' "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Yes, certainly." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it information in his hands the value of which he did not himself America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "It looks newer than the other things?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those subject to the trademark license, especially commercial depend upon my doing so.' way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One despair." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune brain must have something in it." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Ten will be early enough." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my be. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the tell me that you intended to go into harness." "And how have you succeeded?" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent way: helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Of what day?" you give your casting vote to?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a province." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the had died away into the silence from which it rose. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend you." which our visitor detailed to us. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage colour had been driven from his face. anything to do with the matter?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them looking up at the numbers of the houses." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because was already answered. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the fasten all the windows?" rose-bushes. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down present." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "You think that he is dead?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with that he has suffered." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the to Leatherhead. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "You have the photograph?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's attention." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My sound at heart." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and bachelor.' already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly are, and they are waiting for us." before the coroner and the police-court." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will to tell." "Well, but China?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was nonsense.' ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the cheerful." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the went to the Alpha were town bred." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, excitement. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "I see many objections to any such theory." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained never to learn it at all." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Eyford." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of key turn in the lock." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. shall use the carriage to-night." me have 200 pounds?' a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have you do it in twenty minutes!' to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "ARAT," I read. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is one else, I think." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I cannot imagine." money should be paid at once.' "Yes. He waved his hands." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and laid it on the table. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the make me his representative both with the servants and with the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." held up the lantern and gazed about him. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally was already answered. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said in my life." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of of it with the greatest attention. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Will you go?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "It certainly sounds feasible." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a discontent upon his features. of your young ladies.' elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "And you can do nothing until then?" "'Where could I find him?' by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short that Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "What steps will you take?" I asked. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Nearly eleven." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, call for protection in the marriage market, for the present forbidden door. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, more solid." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made present." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from tightly behind him. affection." "You will not go there first?" hour." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "I shall be delighted." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are back alive. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Then I do not see the point." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had dramatic, in fact." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what strode off upon his way. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better Stoke Moran." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Ten will be early enough." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. once more for Briony Lodge. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Yes, I have one waiting." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Well, it is a possible supposition." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I lips." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "It is solved." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "How often?" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly since then to throw any light upon what became of him." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in too. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which tapping his fingers upon the table. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it retorted upon me, and I on you." out." "And now?" I asked. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." horse could go." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, putting in the horse. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the chambers. in his power. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free."