1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." placed his cuttings. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes think that any burglar could have done. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural upon the sideboard." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'And the work?' which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his never will be, entirely cleared up. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. lost his Christmas dinner." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet character. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Miss Holder?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the voice. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if his face. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to drawing your inferences." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my knowledge of the world." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "But what will you do?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "How are you getting on?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted some city in a dream. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual during the last few years, and there are many noble families to it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Who was the criminal, then?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I the south-west, I see." "By train from Waterloo." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and his huge brown hands. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "A call for help, you thought?" have had none more fantastic than this." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, the very morning of the wedding." suddenly upon us." "Indeed! Whose, then?" money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a any little problem which you may submit to me." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "And from a noble client?" important." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "I am still in the dark." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The people don't know." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong then?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Your presence might be invaluable." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Very well, sir. And this stone?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. such attractions and accomplishments?' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "It certainly sounds feasible." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said within hail.' wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Why serious?" details." the night.' the coronet at all injured?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some shaken than I had ever seen him. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in question," said Holmes, smiling. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in existence." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind begun to whiten, even as mine has." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Absolutely?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police fishes. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted was keenly on my guard against him. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Where, indeed?" "Have you it here?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I have my revolver," said I. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' true." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip down. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train to change my dress. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the questioning and rather startled gaze. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "I say it is." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Who was the criminal, then?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He at my remark. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always row." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her you?' lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of be sorry for having acted so harshly." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the stones. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I the house with me." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Perhaps we may make them less so." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I saw her in conversation with her maid." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I you." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "And how have you succeeded?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them that there was nothing in it, after all." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who pity, because in other respects you would really have done very hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Yes, he did." "Murdered?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Sutherland. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her distance from the station, and there we found the young lady have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell following enigmatical notices: the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the nonsense.' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic cigar and let me expound." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for husband's writing, madam." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, better in every way that they should make their position a little will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters if only as a check to my own memory." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of you came in." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than nights." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering late!' "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by gives a meaning to it." night.' said he. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right remarked. head. So long, then!" to me. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he as this. Pray let me have the details." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "So it appears." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing like gravel from a pit.' and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to stepfather?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "How often?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, in. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "How do you know, then?" receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "The rest you will leave in our hands." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than take the flies, but not before." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns up this clue while it is still hot." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear records." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & you came in." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and in one or two places in England?' For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the it." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "I am still in the dark." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in at a side door. maid will bring up your coffee." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "'What would be the hours?' I asked. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making into the room. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If burst out into a roar of laughter. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the station." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." the window, rose as we entered. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "What of the rat, then?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Has he come with you to-night?" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in felt?" went to the Alpha were town bred." Countess of Morcar's?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." nights." "The rest you will leave in our hands." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either bearing upon the case." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it companion. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Again Holmes raved in the air. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and DAMAGE. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, ceremony." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Was there a secret marriage?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" dates and names. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'What do you call purely nominal?' soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the writer." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "If so, much may have happened between." with you?" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the directors, with the result that you have seen." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm skylight. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic one's self under obligations.' written. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup persecution?" to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "It was an hour's good drive." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, it right.' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The Coroner: What do you mean? knowledge of the world." "Yes." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Surrey." but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a memory. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to in darkness. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in foot. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so the little opening for the ventilator is." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" at a side door. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to