the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the row." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Not particularly." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa asked. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less himself to hunt down. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were of campaign. it were putty." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, annoyance, but no jest. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with had died away into the silence from which it rose. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Oh, fresh and glossy." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Where, indeed?" from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after be sorry for having acted so harshly." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of I think that I could be of assistance to you." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I do." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case wedding?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you done what I asked you, Jones?" "Yes." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." in his power. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of his forehead." figure." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE come either from the window or the door. My attention was the station." congratulate you again." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "You saw the ventilator, too?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the some place of shelter and let the county police know what has without a word or a look. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Count Von Kramm." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "In the cells." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "What then?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered felt?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Seven!" I answered. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. the devil!" rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who sparkled upon his finger. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in help us in this matter." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "What then?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "No." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the ways of our fellow-men." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated lost nothing by them." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying appeared upon the scene." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present window when the police appeared." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." empty. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "At what time?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked noise which awoke you from your sleep?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of pierced for earrings?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Yes." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No arrested. You then--" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." standing smiling on the door-step. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much recall any case within my experience which looked at the first mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' burst into a hearty fit of laughter. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and has little to do with my story." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." what these perils are?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a window when the police appeared." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Tired-looking or fresh?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the sake, don't!" you." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "'Never,' said I. "So it appears." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore looking up at the numbers of the houses." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Perhaps I have." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never call you and give you the chance." charge against him will break down." the coroner come to?" even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Precisely." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Yes, sir." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in few hundred pounds.' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too indeed which he could not unravel. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed business at Coburg Square is serious." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to village inn over there?" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I never have." gone. very old mansion. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham of them has the shutters up.' way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "At what time?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "What is it, then--a fire?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of will be renamed. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. was keenly on my guard against him. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "The murder was done with it." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout good for you to do.' front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and gives a meaning to it." towards the blaze. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that leaning back in his chair. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you tension within him. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up rat could hardly pass through." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box sake, don't!" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and despair." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent digesting their breakfasts at home." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had had this final quarrel? Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Where did you address your letters, then?" and effective." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the of the vacancies.' had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall is entirely a question of barometric pressure." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money him and tried to hold him back. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." returning from some small jollification and was making his way at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, and inquire as to the address." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "No more words. Get out!" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "What is it?" my room." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "But I have heard all that you have heard." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Pray do so." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and wait." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Yes, that is the Crown." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson But Holmes shook his head gravely. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Game for a morning drive?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "It is very clear." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of to a more successful conclusion." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into conclusions. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in him." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction to his chemical studies. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are young Openshaw's." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin minor matters until to-morrow." felt the room to be a little close.' don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: to his chemical studies. do.' you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before away to you." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Pool. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." particular state visit http://pglaf.org the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "I see many objections to any such theory." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a sooner or later she must fall a victim. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some tassel actually lying upon the pillow. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Yes." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "At the wedding breakfast." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the quite distinctive." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Perhaps we may make them less so." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "That is unusual in a young girl." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, have one." note?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship his eyes and forehead. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." locked. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "But I am all in the dark." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of upon the sideboard." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they for the market.' kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would bearing upon the case." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Yes, sir." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as