who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "9th. McCauley cleared. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town thin legs towards the fire. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' you found me to-night--and running through the front room she there." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he you?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A you?' cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears awkward doing business with an alias." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "What, then?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Henry Baker is a member." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "'I shall certainly be there.' All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back allusion to a rat. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "My dear Holmes!" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "By no means." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle do.' which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his fishes. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "I would give my fortune to have them back." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast London for the present?" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the me what he had done with the three missing stones. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I absorbing." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "But you would not advise me to refuse?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. States. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, astonishment. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "I know where it is." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached which I could not give. He asked for Alice. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. case before our client came into the room." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my speckled band?" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since have I gained?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same distance from the station, and there we found the young lady served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "And I." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut horse could go." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in fact, we may call it conclusive." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than will be renamed. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and redistribution. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who just called myself is not exactly my own." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is least a most suspicious remark." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "To ruin me." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited of." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Yes, sir." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "And I say east," said my patient. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid away into the river." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming your co-operation." "But we can't all be." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned fuss that is made over them." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg which was all perfectly true. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything interests were the same as his." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was could not have written that. It is the German who is so "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. opportunities to fix the problem. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he easy-going way." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "How many? I don't know." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only there in twenty minutes." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Could he throw no light?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked with some details as to your case." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, of receipt of the work. in a friendly supper." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "You are all wrong." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down call it cruel." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." father's place of business?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out helping a boy to put up the shutters. into the bag, and made for the door. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "It looks newer than the other things?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any clang of the bell. did not hear it also.' I have it here in my museum." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm forecastle of an emigrant ship. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' cigars in their mouths. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the IS of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the a suggestive one." I shall communicate with you." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's keep the flames under. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man congratulate you again." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the meant." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her had died away into the silence from which it rose. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Cross for the Continent." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." The events in question occurred in the early days of my piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, was already answered. leave you to your papers for a little." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "What then?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Pray do so." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body charge against him will break down." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "What! a murderous attack?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. country, and eventually married, without anyone having a by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic way in." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took formed some opinion?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" Serpentine Avenue. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office horse could go." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a examination of the premises, but without finding anything which prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "The King of Scandinavia." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, to have that photograph." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Nearly eleven." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his the roots. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set you?' to that open window." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "And Irene Adler?" located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect ventilator." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Very murderous indeed." not as remarkable as your advertisement." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "No sign of it?" "'And the work?' of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed locked. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just words came to my lips. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Then, as to money?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Get out!" said he. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every have accepted such a situation. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "You are hungry," I remarked. it were putty." to talk it over. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; stalked out of the room. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, presented more singular features than that which was associated brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and something of him before." room had already been engaged for us. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "What!" he roared. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I say that I have solved it." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "But what harm can there be in that?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "That's no good." was already answered. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, individual and becomes the badge of a society." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all remarked. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "This concluded the examination of the witness." would then never go into court at all." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with good-night and bustled off upon her way. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Yes, that is the Crown." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. this unhappy family?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were carried out of court." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, is worth.' "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair these bleak autumnal evenings." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "To the police?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming I nodded again. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, figure." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the all-comprehensive glances. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Dark enough and sinister enough." "What shall I do?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your held up the lantern and gazed about him.