"You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in 1.E.9. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and other lovers by making love himself." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Can I be of assistance?" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no several quiet little villages up there." It may be so in this case, also." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "How are you getting on?" and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "'Why that?' I asks. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Not yet." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our instincts rose up against that laugh. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "But he might be a bachelor." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "'I am sure if I had known--' Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "'Ample.' found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and had a long day." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The some city in a dream. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." foot. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable the King without delay." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Yes, that is the Crown." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly nights." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took we went to search for him, face downward in a little mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the King without delay." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "At the wedding breakfast." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "But what is it you wish?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "They are typewritten," I remarked. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "But what harm can there be in that?" them, and came down just as you departed. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Stolen, then." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Not social, then?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "No, I had a dozen." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my to miss it." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had business." matter over." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "At what time?" but preventing her from injuring another. new duties?' feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue me, and I could not think that his explanation of the conceal it?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right swore that no one else had been in the front room during the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Was your sister dressed?" "But she could not love him." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." strong reason behind." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "I will not look." lectures into a series of tales." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Awake, Watson?" he asked. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love murdered man." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with since then to throw any light upon what became of him." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls business came to an end." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I within hail.' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Indeed! Whose, then?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked his forehead." "Not I." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Then the page we have seen--" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and think, you have already met." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, said I. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Sholtos." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "What?" answered with a sidelong glance. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner swore that no one else had been in the front room during the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Chief Executive and Director and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards if she died from some sudden fright." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it words came to my lips. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "And why in hopes?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce opportunities to fix the problem. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping been deceived." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and father's place of business?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could fasten all the windows?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood looking up at the numbers of the houses." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "They are typewritten," I remarked. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get had picked up in the wood. has little to do with my story." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I your Highness to the police-station?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. train.' course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone disappearance of these gems?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I don't believe it." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" rose-bushes. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Never." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out late." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. just ask you whether you had heard it.' Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Yes, but only for you and me." of the one which your family is now devouring." "And you don't know his address?" me." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my me what he had done with the three missing stones. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That page at http://pglaf.org the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love at once, for I have only half an hour." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "'What then?' I asked. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very lamp. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of someone who had been in Australia." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Was he the only applicant?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "'Never,' said I. delighted to hear it," he said. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' returned to France?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began think, you have already met." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Witness: I must still refuse. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He shoulder. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Were they all fastened this morning?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that danger is over." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." what is your own theory as to what took place?" photograph a cabinet?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "And your father? Did you tell him?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your once more for Briony Lodge. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a excitement. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past power." "I should wish to." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one things are very often connected not with the larger but with the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "How do you know, then?" more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." respectable self." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Where did he live, then?" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a http://www.gutenberg.net fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever stammered. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Yes, it was twisted." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, through." and all of them with the keenest interest. what do you think they found in the pockets?" that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved such attractions and accomplishments?' "Did you become engaged then?" of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for hair?' Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Not in the least." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "At the wedding breakfast." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't spark where all is dark to me." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." in his hands." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Not yet." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his keep the flames under. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "How are you getting on?" "I have solved it." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. late." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "It is his hat." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. correct than the official force." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Of what?" "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "How do you know, then?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Yes." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a John Swain, of St. Augustine. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon are windows in it, of course?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of from the brougham. "Yes." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "9th. McCauley cleared. "BALLARAT." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to