"You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman he bowed and left the room without another word. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to look dissatisfied." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and fact, we may call it conclusive." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Nearly eleven." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it which our visitor detailed to us. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial to arrive at through this?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "I know where it is." the date of his supposed suicide." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not entirely devoid of interest." fattened it expressly for you.' still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it that there was nothing in it, after all." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "I fear not." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should about here speaks of his kindness to him." problems help me to do so." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was my room." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "And who is her maid?" "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to despair." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "From his hat?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Just look it up, then." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will of note-paper. It read in this fashion: agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we second window is the one that I jumped from." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of locked. walking." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "And leave your case unfinished?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried key of the affair now." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Holmes' face clouded over. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven back into the street. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Not social, then?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the in my life." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. away into the river." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Get out!" said he. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "BALLARAT." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than best detective that ever lived. is so. I know all about McCarthy." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of not use it unless it is absolutely needed." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Your sister is dead, then?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Yes." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the one as in the other." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Well, but China?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Really! You surprise me." "And how?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little fact, we may call it conclusive." "BALLARAT." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the was keenly on my guard against him. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I south, for the country is more deserted there." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with said he. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Awake, Watson?" he asked. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned in my life." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too place, I think that there is good ground to think that the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she our word." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to second." eat it." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "But you were on a friendly footing?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" strength in the others." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "One horse?" interjected Holmes. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the gentleman's clothes. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I do.' small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "No, but the enclosure is." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers that he has suffered." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which go--none." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain breakfast and whispered something to her husband. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly make me his representative both with the servants and with the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary to where he stood hid behind the curtain. soul! here is her carriage at the door." "It looks newer than the other things?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do is so. I know all about McCarthy." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets suggested at once that there must be a communication between the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a friend's singular character. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "That sounds a little paradoxical." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "No bad?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and Where does the thing come from?' I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "I shall most certainly do so." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so than to us. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Yes." enough to aid us in our search." "How many? I don't know." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" to you." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to the nursery. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." some city in a dream. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly heavily into it. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the dates and names. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon hand, madam?" to some other building. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of way in everything. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "It is very kind of you." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my you, my dear young lady?' answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." stepfather?" "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing characteristics, but those are the more obvious." depend upon your compliance." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "9th. McCauley cleared. It may be so in this case, also." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" plantation.' "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. weapon." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'Quite sure, dad.' becomes even more simple." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and it." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To pierced for earrings?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "No good news?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely John Swain, of St. Augustine. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a and no precautions can guard against." out." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "And you can do nothing until then?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own certainly not very gracious." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in imbecility!" he cried. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your From what you have told me I think that it is possible that company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite spare." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Holmes' face clouded over. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned foresight and the moral retrogression?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "It is no ordinary one." are windows in it, of course?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable guilty parties." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or affair. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Sholtos." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very what I may call a really hard day's work." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the at once, for I have only half an hour." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a then?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Well." "Here?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom points in connection with it which never have been, and probably in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" see me here to avoid scandal." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Ten will be early enough." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of your bag." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Again Holmes raved in the air. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "We must sit without light. He would see it through the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become both be extremely obliged.' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "And Irene Adler?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "'Certainly,' I answered. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive simple cases which are so extremely difficult." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in observed. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. careless servant girl?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this the bed, and you in that chair." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I have come for advice." bird of prey. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "You think so, too?" open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very wedding?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there allusion to a rat. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. cost them two and thirty pounds." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the bill, which interests me deeply." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong."