morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham nights." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was you?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "She showed me, as I told you she would." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." you." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "It missed him, then?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I fact, we may call it conclusive." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The place no limit on the sum I may draw." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of troubles have been weighing upon his mind. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," quite distinctive." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on tail." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and nights." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he official police." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he The telegram which we eventually received came late one night impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Then, as to money?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Entirely." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an here." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "That sounds a little paradoxical." green of the new foliage. "It was an hour's good drive." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can right! Sit down and let us talk it over." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. as the one I chose?' "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "On the contrary, this is the right side." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "I see many objections to any such theory." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "By no means." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Entirely." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Then you may entirely rely on me." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must key of the affair now." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "I say that I have solved it." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with redistribution. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." present." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "My stepfather's business papers." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front stepfather?" of this gang." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "What will you say?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "'I shall certainly be there.' in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is of fine shops and stately business premises that they really regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had time." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, burst out into a roar of laughter. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into matter." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its photograph?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "The murder was done with it." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Yes, certainly." indiscretion." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Nothing?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "How many? I don't know." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the warnings." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you tear off another piece?' "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "My private note-paper." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your Pope's Court, Fleet Street." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began populous neighbourhood." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. away to you." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Yes, all." some water from a caraffe. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with I have it here in my museum." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "I was mad--insane." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." tail." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when very peculiar words of the dying woman?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm hands. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the to change my dress. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "What can it mean?" I gasped. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I am in hopes that she does." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "'Where could I find him?' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "What can it mean?" I gasped. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings see me here to avoid scandal." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "To the police?" "She told me to ask you." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "And it is--" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it name is different." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, were new raised from a basin. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and and a shock of very red hair. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "What shall I do?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. which are rolled in Rotterdam." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as could not have written that. It is the German who is so "I will try. What is it?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical might have a private word with us. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the station." newspaper selections." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, whole matter to your consideration." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United were unconscious?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. your billet.' that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "'As governess?' small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in call the police, let the police find what they can.' convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Your French gold?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be both be extremely obliged.' time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at good for you to do.' bears upon the case?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "At what time?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an public press." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." man. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the drove away. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, an introduction to him?" "My stepfather's business papers." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly suddenly upon us." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he ways including including checks, online payments and credit card bearing upon the case." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated deduce something from that?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." get her out of the way." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is before the coroner and the police-court." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at residence of the great financier. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "'It is locked up,' I answered. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But here and I will read it to you: remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "I see no marks." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. constraint." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "And the murderer?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the driver. heavily into it. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "An accident, I presume?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a less than 26s. 4d. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Not social, then?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture hands. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "We must have a cab." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "When did she vanish, then?" About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Murdered?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Have you her photograph?" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, four million human beings all jostling each other within the IS "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no works. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to You want to know what became of those geese?" sneer upon his pale face. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself handed it to him. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical over part of the map. "What do you read?" had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I the roots. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Perhaps we may make them less so." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in felt the room to be a little close.' Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and she to prove their authenticity?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." ran thus: new acquaintance to Baker Street. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we prove to be little relation between the different incidents of open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have that you can jump it.' my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Do you go out much in society?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his do." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Which are?" from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital trying to your nerves." His name is Francis Prosper." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Frequently." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without lips." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no without success. At last the little money which I had saved began among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "No." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing served to weaken the effect. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a anything to do with the matter?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he