view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Then I do not see the point." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet eavesdroppers?' roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "What, then?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "But she could not love him." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Then I shall certainly come." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to I am not easy in my mind about them." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we get her out of the way." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, taking in every detail of the apartment. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "It is possible." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "'And the work?' "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "The doctor?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "And the cigar-holder?" father's place of business?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "'Then let me do so?' "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Lee, in the county of Kent." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of never came back." up this clue while it is still hot." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Did you become engaged then?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked deduce something from that?" "Did your wife hear all this?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the this unhappy family?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to off." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate without a word or a look. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, direction." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "I should be immensely obliged to you." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Absolutely none." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "'Never.' your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Yes, it was twisted." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four breakfast." "I will get her to show me." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary do you make of it all?" "The vanishing of the lady." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace humiliation." coat-tails." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Precisely." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that fishes. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "'And the work?' "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." where she found matters as described by the last witness. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Why did you beat the pavement?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself will be renamed. are windows in it, of course?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Very. But will he see it?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "I have solved it." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the outside. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as wedding?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for crime." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight his wife has ceased to love him." chemical work which was so dear to him. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "But the mystery?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'As governess?' have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The fatally injured? eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it go--none." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small other lovers by making love himself." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I will try. What is it?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a writing, and yet I know it well." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the shall use the carriage to-night." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he not as remarkable as your advertisement." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily humiliation." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "So it appears." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have ready to-morrow?' "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "And from a noble client?" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "But how did you gain them?" "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "None." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." drawing your inferences." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Married! When?" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "What I expected to see." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the with you alone." Cross for the Continent." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." hands. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as http://gutenberg.net/license). back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Mary, has deserted me." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they enter Dr. Roylott's room." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of so.' round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "None." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang suddenly upon us." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Holmes." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a of a light. outside." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get subject to the trademark license, especially commercial at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, undoubtedly my uncle's." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. do.' want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment that I can to serve you." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. thirty. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any been with you?" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear it with his own hands." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send right! Sit down and let us talk it over." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had disturbance in my wife." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "What do you mean?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "An enemy?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the do you make of it all?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very papers must be those that are destroyed.' Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "My dear Holmes!" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Come in!" said he. tightly behind him. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box strong and stiff." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Married! When?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project that you wished to speak to me?' laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the coronet in his hand?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if friends, not even his own brother. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission you." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the general public were present, then?" side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would his eyes and forehead. both be extremely obliged.' "Yes." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Whose house is it?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary very morning of my second wedding." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "I would pay ten." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were I nodded to show that I had heard. of his shoulders. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. flock.' detective. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De daring than any effort of the imagination." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Here?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' until night should bring an explanation. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "It certainly sounds feasible." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. yourselves in at night?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him you came in." main points of my analysis." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very gigantic client. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had