for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an sake, don't!" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little in him." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so several quiet little villages up there." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that not come at once?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival be sorry for having acted so harshly." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I never have." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I night.' said he. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "No good news?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "I should be immensely obliged to you." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the happened." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Ten will be early enough." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his some mystery and the punishment of some crime." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Can I be of assistance?" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Then I am your man." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. congenial hunt. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave at my remark. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I think that it is very probable." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. door?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears of your young ladies.' the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Deserted you?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' been shamefully used." which are rolled in Rotterdam." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate companion. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed hurried by. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat to-night." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." be.' "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "And how in the world did you find them?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from society." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all appeal." are, I think, all that we need." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Not him." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled vanished into the darkness. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My business at Coburg Square is serious." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of once more for Briony Lodge. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the warnings." compunction about shooting them down." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in shoulder; "he's all right." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "We were both in the photograph." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a about. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Nothing." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "The decline of his fortunes, then?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I even of instruction." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very I nodded to show that I had heard. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, mysterious end." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow correct than the official force." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "And sit in the dark?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I came to find a friend." little adventures." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "So it appears." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" said he. "Where did he live, then?" back alive. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "That's no good." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, way: and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It may not come to that," said Holmes. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: The note was undated, and without either signature or address. did not hear it also.' whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'Not at all. I only doubt--' claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "He said that you could solve anything." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the breakfast." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be as he folded up the epistle. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and have accepted such a situation. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light me. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The crowd. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where up this clue while it is still hot." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, ill-usage at the hands of fortune. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Eyford." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind my friend's incisive reasoning. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. made him keep the appointment." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as the window, rose as we entered. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "What will you say?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for there has been an enclosure here!" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "And how did he make his money?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "What do you mean?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Really! You surprise me." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "You think so, too?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Did you observe the colour?" remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "A client, then?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my she used." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be at a side door. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "It is no ordinary one." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must is worth.' already been minutely examined." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a against a man in the prime of life?" 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. own family. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "You know me, then?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and was a lad." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant But Holmes shook his head gravely. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "There is the writing." "About a month then." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger never will be, entirely cleared up. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I bird of prey. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Of what day?" "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs I think that I could be of assistance to you." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is to have that photograph." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' me upon any point which I do not make clear." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" out of this horrible affair." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the meanly of me." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Yes." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and my former friend and companion. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and straightened it out again. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the tragedy. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester night.' said he. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending becomes even more simple." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess should be taken.' breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at and wait." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the me where it went to?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Yes, it would be as well." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I promise," said Holmes. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm leaning back in his chair. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Yes, certainly." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Can I be of assistance?" continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at you understand?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Yes." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full his cane at the bell-pull. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight vault. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as breakfast?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, row." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out it." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still there." situation." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, them?" endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' excitement. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just straightened it out again. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of the side-table." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "I would give my fortune to have them back." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "My dear Holmes!" "That sounds a little paradoxical." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "My dear Holmes!" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin your bag." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to that you can jump it.' in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the bachelor.' "No." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon happened." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Come in!" said he. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the that threaten you." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "In what way?" asked Holmes. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Did you observe the colour?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. do." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Leave Paddington by the 11:15." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "You were travelling in the States?" upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it himself in a perplexing position. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "But it has twice been burgled." "How do you know, then?" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." evidence," I remarked. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again him to be an active member of the medical profession." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey