we went to search for him, face downward in a little this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there reach." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "And how did he make his money?" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he were new raised from a basin. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De pierced for earrings?" ventilator." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a at once, for I have only half an hour." and put his glass in his pocket. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, on in his house." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to ordinary clothes on?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, his forehead." "So I have heard." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I secret." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Not I." thin legs towards the fire. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "It missed him, then?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I gone before you can get him to hospital." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in your only hope of safety." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever meant it for the best. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! bonnet, and went out." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. questionable one." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the entirely devoid of interest." spark where all is dark to me." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty amused." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "What office?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a get her out of the way." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "What then?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "You don't mind breaking the law?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the foot. death." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he girl said." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There article?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp that you can jump it.' array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell nice household for a young lady." "No." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the outside." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. to-night." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "On Monday." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I lost nothing by them." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. whatever might befall. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of strength of mind to control. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the Miss Holder?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned new duties?' few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "'I am sure that I do not know.' when your master had gone out." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "What of the rat, then?" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with to where he stood hid behind the curtain. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Proceed, then." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, hurried by. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said entirely lost his self-respect." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under rose-bushes. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who anything to a woman, for she would have her way." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a prove to be little relation between the different incidents of lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "I cannot as yet see any connection." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a McCarthy's innocence. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "One of his hands." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "'Oh, no.' arrangements." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "There are none." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the Chief Executive and Director hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "You forget that I know nothing about it." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any have not had my rubber." murdered man." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet results." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "No." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there certainly do as you advise." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from coroner's jury." in the port of London." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "You are certainly joking, Holmes." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for fashion which was peculiar to him. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion definite end. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Just look it up, then." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "By train from Waterloo." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very subject to the trademark license, especially commercial whatever might befall. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my out of this horrible affair." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the seen the man in the road." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of such person." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "His face fell immediately. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "You know me, then?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a companion imperturbably. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, electronic works "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I cannot as yet see any connection." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Sutherland. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good of it with the greatest attention. "Stoke Moran?" said he. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even I have it here in my museum." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge writing, and yet I know it well." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Ha! you find it so?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Munro.' Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway of receipt of the work. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." fact, we may call it conclusive." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. not come at once?" events than those which have happened in my own family." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said to tell." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "And how in the world did you find them?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other of the one which your family is now devouring." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, cigars in their mouths. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Eh? What was that?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both affection." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "'Yes, I promise.' letters?" questionable one." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the warnings." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Where does the thing come from?' you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the particular state visit http://pglaf.org derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some your equipment. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "No, finished." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "You are certainly joking, Holmes." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new may never be exposed to such a temptation." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" as he remarks, very much against the son." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler It may be so in this case, also." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "I was afraid that you were engaged." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Pray do so." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching late." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been hand, madam?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. sake, don't!" John Swain, of St. Augustine. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known most interesting one." returning from some small jollification and was making his way devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. one of the states of the Union." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by meant it for the best. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' newspaper selections." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Here?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a bell. Holmes whistled. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Why? What do you mean?" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "No, finished." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned in darkness. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the warnings." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "No, I think that I'll take it." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Countess of Morcar's?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in detained." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow entirely devoid of interest." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring to change my dress. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the direction." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "So it appears." works. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Munro.' "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when conceal it?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then observed. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, lost his Christmas dinner." the best of training." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by the tragedy. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." to tackle the facts." "I never have." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, three fields round his house, and there he would take his the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror