but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a to go into your room and bar your shutters?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is official police." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible was a loud and authoritative tap. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Do you receive much company?" he asked. obstinate." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so morning." row." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you guilty parties." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Yes, they were peculiar boots." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' before the coroner and the police-court." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and You can understand that this register and diary may implicate little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Holmes, the busybody!" "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple silent! Oh, he will be silent!' contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was criminal. We have already had experience of such." back into the street. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love there!' pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Surrey." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be may never be exposed to such a temptation." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her hand, madam?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I even so self-evident a thing as that." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "'And what salary do you ask?' "She told me to ask you." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Well, some hundreds of times." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: was once confined in the cab my mission was practically vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "It was an hour's good drive." colour had been driven from his face. horse could go." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. that call it cruel." to a more successful conclusion." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Has he come with you to-night?" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his to a light-house. direction." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can get the tickets." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "What! a murderous attack?" "Not in a good cause." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads go from here to the Strand." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Doctor, of the paper and the date." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers presented which may be striking and bizarre without being formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the the running down." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its following enigmatical notices: in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a recall any case within my experience which looked at the first telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Holmes' face clouded over. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his side. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some entirely devoid of interest." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly your room." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "By no means." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As indeed happy." shoulder; "he's all right." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." with frightened eyes at his accuser. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "What will you do, then?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step key turn in the lock." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Nothing." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "'Certainly not. But why?' "Stoke Moran?" said he. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "How can you tell that?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "How can you tell that?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "He is dead," cried several voices. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, highly," said Holmes. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side bled considerably." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from DISSOLVED. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to hurried away. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, drawing your inferences." him." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity down. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time Surrey." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "'There is a drive, then?' no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, unprofitable." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a to Leatherhead. will not take me long to tell. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. which our visitor detailed to us. eavesdroppers?' touch that coronet?' the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of Henry Baker is a member." in his power. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of furiously. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, has little to do with my story." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty is," said he presently: agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need at home. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' conclusions. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could come either from the window or the door. My attention was "I am sure." way in everything. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "My last client of the sort was a king." "Was she in good spirits?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this might help us?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, late!' little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was light and attacked it." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed the so-precious time, but come!' "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be may never be exposed to such a temptation." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "What will you say?" therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "That's no good." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." people don't know." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and bell. Holmes whistled. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock to-night?' sofa. This way, please!" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Can I be of assistance?" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." signal between you and your father? scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "I will, Miss Turner." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found fled together." "There is the writing." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Will you bet, then?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a appeared upon the scene." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of receipt of the work. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." followed. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "I promise," said Holmes. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' correct than the official force." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man of Mr. Rucastle's." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to me, and I could not think that his explanation of the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon breakfast?" really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "I shall most certainly do so." "'Never.' performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "It may not come to that," said Holmes. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a country, and eventually married, without anyone having a disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Quite so. She has her freedom." sound at heart." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce there." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases business." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Yes, it was twisted." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the Assizes." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' himself to hunt down. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." business in the City. She little knew what. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "In what way?" asked Holmes. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "I don't say that. Perhaps." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Yes." man. I know him from the photograph." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of This is what he says: buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger she slowly sank and died without having recovered her responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was when your master had gone out." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such