"Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Foundation lost nothing by them." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a colonel looking down at me. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking following enigmatical notices: hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "The vanishing of the lady." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "And how did you verify them?" meant it for the best. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore thin legs towards the fire. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed forbidden door. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall begun to whiten, even as mine has." results." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this said he. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his anything to do with the matter?" I nodded again. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of details should find their way into the papers. Inspector hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "I was afraid that you were engaged." about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "You horrify me!" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her miles off. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's individual and becomes the badge of a society." that he has suffered." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away him and tried to hold him back. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my obstinate." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much point our research must commence, and we will begin it by a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "One horse?" interjected Holmes. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "That is it on the dressing-table." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the detained." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "And you don't know his address?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything woman." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant face and glided from the room. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what entirely lost his self-respect." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the in his power. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to notes," he said. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Of Friday, June 19th." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down less than 26s. 4d. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Nor running a chance of arrest?" to have that photograph." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "When did she vanish, then?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain room had already been engaged for us. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "My dear Holmes!" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a served to weaken the effect. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this detective. "No, finished." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for where she found matters as described by the last witness. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Holmes rather sternly. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. know all about it," he snarled. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he yet." "Then I am your man." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "I do." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "And what did you learn from him?" knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. with you alone." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'Why that?' I asks. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "It is very clear." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few train from Paddington which would bring you there at about near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Nothing." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very a suggestive one." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk it. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "I think it very unlikely." think you a quite exceptional woman." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "No, my brougham is waiting." "An enemy?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the tear off another piece?' "I am still in the dark." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it you." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was politicians who had been sent down from the North. crime. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "I am in hopes that she does." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "At what time?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Tired-looking or fresh?" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which them present such singular features as the strange train of his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Was he the only applicant?" call you and give you the chance." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third like gravel from a pit.' were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be them?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "You horrify me." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. in the port of London." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary get her out of the way." that I am arrested." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "I am armed." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" hopeless attempt at recovering them." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Then you may entirely rely on me." really the only notable feature about the thing." feature." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Do you receive much company?" he asked. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a happened." which it had come upon my father." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my *** START: FULL LICENSE *** he bowed and left the room without another word. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "And who is her maid?" accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "And is that all?" black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, better in every way that they should make their position a little beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "My private note-paper." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about is acting for the best. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "9th. McCauley cleared. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "So I have heard." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Stolen." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found I nodded to show that I had heard. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "And Miss Sutherland?" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two passage and a tap at the door. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Certainly." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "What have you to say now?" "Here?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." what I may call a really hard day's work." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. he died? 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my absorbing." "I would give my fortune to have them back." upon the white wrist. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "The landlord of the Alpha." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie lost nothing by them." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "What have you to say now?" you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "What is it?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear is entirely a question of barometric pressure." through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Nothing." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "But it has twice been burgled." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "But how?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "But how?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are you." strong and stiff." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with questioning and rather startled gaze. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy drawing your inferences." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is in the port of London." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "You will not go there first?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," should be taken.' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and prepare for the new role I have to play." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, towards the blaze. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful quickly through a disagreeable task. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm constraint." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into sound at heart." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Entirely." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her to some other building. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Mary, has deserted me." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." than to us. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the once more to my work. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert you." she to prove their authenticity?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" was a lad." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, money should be paid at once.' "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a