so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of is worth.' friend's singular character. "Certainly." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send point our research must commence, and we will begin it by utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "That is not always so easy." "It is half-past ten now." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "What are they?" road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Dark enough and sinister enough." awaited us upon the table. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "The best possible." hour?' Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Not I." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small 1.E.9. "Quite so." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "No sign of it?" "I should like to see him very much." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "My dear Holmes!" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and future lives." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Yes, sir." who was a member of your goose club." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Which surely he restored to their owner?" set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every little adventures." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door business in the City. She little knew what. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'And what salary do you ask?' St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, giving me time to thank him. when you have done it." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole over here." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled husband's writing, madam." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our this man was intellectual?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "But to whom?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. door?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the disappearance of the bride.'" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of you found me to-night--and running through the front room she disturbance in my wife." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Sholtos." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right colonel looking down at me. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who presented which may be striking and bizarre without being address. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, was not a bird to be seen there. Watson," he said cordially. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "The landlord of the Alpha." newspaper selections." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "I am armed." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father thought that she would have been so carried away." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Why did you beat the pavement?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this States. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" orange pips. "Who by?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "The doctor?" himself in a perplexing position. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "A confidential servant?" chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'Yes, sir.' colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he some terrible trap for her." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry most interesting one." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, happened." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his I held the little printed slip to the light. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have you in yours." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager thought that she would have been so carried away." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "How often?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "'Never,' said I. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. discontent upon his features. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the take the flies, but not before." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." I think that I could be of assistance to you." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, presented more singular features than that which was associated willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Of what day?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, soul! here is her carriage at the door." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss of Fenchurch Street." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his grasp, he hurried from the room. noble correspondent could be. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." question. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may upon the shelf for the interim." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and I nodded again. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling one's self under obligations.' where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "How did you deduce the select?" "Always." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save and wait." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and answered with a sidelong glance. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the door?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a stepfather?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net man. I know him from the photograph." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I back into the street. it." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your What do you deduce from it?" "One of the highest in England." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "It came here." better in every way that they should make their position a little breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the morning and make my own way in the world.' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the roots. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a Eyford." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Did you become engaged then?" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? as he folded up the epistle. them?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been will he say when he returns?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his face and glided from the room. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, the best of training." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. third from London." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "'Quite sure, dad.' "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told shall use the carriage to-night." "But you have hopes?" "Yes." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or you do it in twenty minutes!' including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle begun to whiten, even as mine has." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Here?" "You know me, then?" one which it was hard to resist. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project leave you to your papers for a little." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Nothing." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Serpentine Avenue. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to client, rising. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." unkempt, staring out at me. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was official police." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked for and were ordered to this address. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "What is it?" "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Imitated." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City ashen face. ordinary clothes on?" at my own good fortune. introspective fashion. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said help us in this matter." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for the dangers which encompass me." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. here and I will read it to you: were new raised from a basin. that you can jump it.' in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the whereabouts. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the I have it here in my museum." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and here." The King stared at him in amazement. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an of note-paper. It read in this fashion: eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up miles off. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the indeed happy." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "'And the work?' be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Literary Archive Foundation nice household for a young lady." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's she to prove their authenticity?" the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As silent! Oh, he will be silent!' quite distinctive." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left to a light-house. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if there were one or two details which were new to me. But the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to tell him that I know him to be innocent." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. on in his house." "But you can know nothing of this?" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and think that any burglar could have done. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Was your sister dressed?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "And the cigar-holder?" she might be summoned. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a forecastle of an emigrant ship. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a arrested. You then--" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in