here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "'Quite sure, dad.' man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." putting in the horse. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. written. salesman. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "10th. John Swain cleared. mysterious business." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite forbidden door. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "I shall be delighted." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not man. "One of the highest in England." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Have you her photograph?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "I answered that I had not. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "'Why that?' I asks. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Never." "I came to find a friend." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. it right.' conceal it?" coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered entirely lost his self-respect." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair infinite languor in his face. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of indiscretion." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the learned something! Where are the gems?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "But of what society?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where green of the new foliage. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Then he might have called to you?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with during that time.' desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent interest. They are important, you understand, without being "And it is--" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, distinguish the words: "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with sneer upon his pale face. shoulder. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the fashion which was peculiar to him. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last not fit the lock." just called myself is not exactly my own." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, without a word or a look. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "No." the tragedy. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. bled considerably." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Holmes rather sternly. do.' "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Pray let us have it, for all that." "I cannot tell." his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its constraint." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor his wife has ceased to love him." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect which are rolled in Rotterdam." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." hurried away. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "But his left-handedness." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle to-night." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "But I am all in the dark." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the that threaten you." "You don't mind breaking the law?" Holmes' thin, eager face. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "You know me, then?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one ways of our fellow-men." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Then I can wait in the next room." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Ten will be early enough." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." think, you have already met." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, address. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Again Holmes raved in the air. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'And what salary do you ask?' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "What then?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other where Mr. Fordham shows you.' had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Yes, certainly." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the begun to whiten, even as mine has." it were putty." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had DAMAGE. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, him nearly every evening." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and row." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy ourselves in the office." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Sutherland?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Will you bet, then?" "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "It is very clear." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "'Very good.' "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Henry Baker is a member." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a was the fact that his father should, according to his account, you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Yes, at the mines." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a impression behind it as though a window had gently closed the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. morning." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated open." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we in this note: Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Then I shall certainly come." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." do.' o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a there were so many in the whole country as were brought together the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great Dr. Gregory B. Newby There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and round and wave him away like that.' It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "I fear not." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "You have a clue?" once more for Briony Lodge. 'please.'" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. to-morrow." shall use the carriage to-night." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a shag which I had seen upon the previous night. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, followed. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good to-night?' "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Oh, the cause is excellent!" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out horse could go." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have look dissatisfied." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll bachelor.' "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a recover the gem." out." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it key turn in the lock." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and My friend smiled. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they noise which awoke you from your sleep?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "You did not overhear what they said?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were said I. "Yes." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at might help us?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely carriage. It was a chestnut." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Pray do so." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him writers could invent nothing more crude." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Why did you beat the pavement?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself address. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his you." happened." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new open." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged may have an influence upon European history." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "'Never.' "The Cedars?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those orange pips. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not envelope. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "An accident, I presume?" "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." joking. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Nothing." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of shall use the carriage to-night." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of important." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' carried out of court." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly sneer upon his pale face. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Do you know him?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Imitated." me. You must get home instantly and act." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day come either from the window or the door. My attention was and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing drawing your inferences." against a man in the prime of life?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her trying to your nerves." matter." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as