has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Pray be precise as to details," said he. weighed down with some great anxiety. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "In heaven's name, what for?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and companion imperturbably. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the him and tried to hold him back. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. him. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to and effective." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common success. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint point in the dark hollow of his hand. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "It looks newer than the other things?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the fishes. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Countess of Morcar's?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many populous neighbourhood." there was no need for father to know." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress my friend's incisive reasoning. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from back alive. was feeling which was the fattest.' "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the Assizes." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off you." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't least a most suspicious remark." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came what do you think they found in the pockets?" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble chance." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back This is what he says: and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Witness: I must still refuse. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I see no marks." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Pray be precise as to details," said he. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and it with his own hands." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Perhaps I have." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind Street. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Well, some hundreds of times." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to skylight. "'Quite sure, dad.' "Yesterday." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking own family. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of conduct the inquiry." "I will do it." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the general public were present, then?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "That is possible." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She out of this horrible affair." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. at my remark. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies crime. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the questionable one." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had written, and locked the door of the office after me. "So I am. Very much so." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "'Where could I find him?' and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those 'I should be able to look after that for you.' From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "'Then let me do so?' fishes. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, away to you." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. it." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Quite so. She has her freedom." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I say it is." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. ways of our fellow-men." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without matters immensely." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "How often?" It may be so in this case, also." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'Yes, I promise.' well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just returned to France?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, your bag." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'Which dealer's?' attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, off." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your of Fenchurch Street." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "No, I think that I'll take it." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away least a most suspicious remark." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if to-night?" I asked. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "What?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very the dangers which encompass me." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, whereabouts. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and was keenly on my guard against him. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet young Openshaw's." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which once more. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to all-comprehensive glances. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Leadenhall Street--and--" six. Come in!" "Then you may be so with me." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was results." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Yes." light and attacked it." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "How did you deduce the select?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Certainly." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you crime." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been this poor creature." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is and capable of preserving a secret.' inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to to you." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Pray let us have it, for all that." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the not as remarkable as your advertisement." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. make me his representative both with the servants and with the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the room?" the Assizes." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less in his hands." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into cigar and let me expound." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of DAMAGE. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage chamber." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. himself. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "How did that help you?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." I. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Well, but China?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Perhaps I have." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of not within a twentieth part of the market price." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to something of him before." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "'Entirely.' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and garden below. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "You have the photograph?" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole are windows in it, of course?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too the devil!" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a into the bag, and made for the door. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's do.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "But I am all in the dark." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "I beg pardon." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which to a light-house. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was my former friend and companion. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Clair, of Lee." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of at a side door. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush photograph?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "What steps will you take?" I asked. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." to tell." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at very morning of my second wedding." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce sit on the left-hand side of the driver." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of or other trace. But how on earth--" you." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Could he throw no light?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut distinguish the words: passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "He said that you could solve anything." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Absolutely none." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Perfectly so." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Has he come with you to-night?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "I cannot say that I have." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I house for five minutes.' Mrs. Toller serenely. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking direction." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "But his lameness?" 1.F. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Stoke Moran." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." to talk it over. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side morning." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my foot. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Eyford." call the police, let the police find what they can.' convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. within hail.' manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the very letters. But what is this written above them?'