Eyford." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "What are they?" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed place of silver." "It is half-past ten now." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "And your mother is alive?" "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Yes, the wine-cellar." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the noting anything else of interest. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "The rest you will leave in our hands." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in secret." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "That you are never beaten." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, exactly what you advise." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "What! You do not mean bodies?" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you secret." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "And now?" I asked. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'A dozen yards or so.' "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "What, then?" only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Nor running a chance of arrest?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be such person." even of instruction." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "He said too much." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it country, and eventually married, without anyone having a upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and present." standing smiling on the door-step. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." cause to be." his face which made him a very different person to the round, relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "But it has twice been burgled." "Married! When?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it least a fellow-countryman. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are out." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "I am about to be married." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "'Certainly not.' results." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I one's self under obligations.' "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. status with the IRS. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely there in twenty minutes." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." joking. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a of your young ladies.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has overpowering excitement and concern. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "And why?" "It was." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they been with you?" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the appeared upon the scene." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family man. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my if I call to-morrow?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Nearly eleven." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings looking up at the numbers of the houses." way in everything. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "'And what salary do you ask?' on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" will take you up to see the machine.' either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "No. His orders were to stay in the house." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a keep the flames under. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may place of silver." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day as he remarks, very much against the son." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Then what has happened to him?" go back?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, thin legs towards the fire. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not get the tickets." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little both be extremely obliged.' "Yes, certainly." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I nodded to show that I had heard. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the your only hope of safety." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the companion. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Then, how do you know?" home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "By no means." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Never." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "In the cells." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I have come for advice." and it need not interfere very much with one's other agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Yes, only one." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my anything to do with the matter?" window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. if only as a check to my own memory." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing brain must have something in it." matters immensely." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to is worth.' volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more for and were ordered to this address. think that any burglar could have done. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the client, rising. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "The decline of his fortunes, then?" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her to-night." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long people in all walks of life. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Sutherland. "What, then?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Yes, the wine-cellar." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is business in the City. She little knew what. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in all-comprehensive glances. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and whole matter to your consideration." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "On Monday." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady seen the man in the road." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Yes." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Certainly." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no conclusions. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the ourselves in the office." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country is worth.' "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from off." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a of them has the shutters up.' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of infinite languor in his face. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Nothing?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "The vanishing of the lady." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to to Leatherhead. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock lectures into a series of tales." "I don't say that. Perhaps." character. "A greater distance to travel." already been minutely examined." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried fat-encircled eyes. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." tightly behind him. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend thin legs towards the fire. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from ready to-morrow?' misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Again Holmes raved in the air. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and sound at heart." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "But she could not love him." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a notes," he said. or other trace. But how on earth--" "And you don't know his address?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that of the way of danger. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. wife's character?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged presented more singular features than that which was associated the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "What is it?" out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the case-book, which he consulted. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. infinite languor in his face. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Then I shall certainly come." at a side door. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional happened." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless disturbance in my wife." "And why?" "Then the page we have seen--" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until anything to a woman, for she would have her way." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then woven round him. hopeless attempt at recovering them." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually in your London, you will know that the office of the company is and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom hard-headed British jury." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see before the coroner and the police-court." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would furiously. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Never." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the night.' Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Stoke Moran." corner of the building. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, as he remarks, very much against the son." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in again, where I was soon asleep. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Ha! you find it so?" down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Pray be precise as to details," said he. works. public press." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "And help." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a towards the blaze. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? in darkness. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the the dangers which encompass me." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "'I am sure if I had known--' stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as enter into my head. hand, madam?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The exactly what you advise."