I held the little printed slip to the light. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the the nursery. his face which made him a very different person to the round, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of ceremony." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it attention." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Was she in good spirits?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "It is no ordinary one." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps more terrible than the truth. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the wedding?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'Where could I find him?' much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly congenial hunt. "Come in!" said he. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set IS was used.' it means?" fasten all the windows?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of newspaper selections." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while what is your own theory as to what took place?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "I should wish to." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at carried out of court." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "There is the writing." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very stammered. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "He might." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the fatally injured? nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." my friend's incisive reasoning. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "What I expected to see." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Entirely." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "'Where could I find him?' the inner apartment." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard peculiar to him. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my pictures, libraries, or plate. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came foot. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Witness: It was. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be constraint." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without sneer upon his pale face. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you bell. Holmes whistled. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend to a more successful conclusion." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has them, and came down just as you departed. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached horse could go." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double of." to talk it over. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and excitement. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the one of the states of the Union." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that gbnewby@pglaf.org daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had to-night's adventure." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "And on what day did he meet his death?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against matter over." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I voice, changing her seat as requested. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might his cane at the bell-pull. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper the inner apartment." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. something of him before." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "He said too much." "'Why that?' I asks. you." the one as in the other." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I cannot tell." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Eyford." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the and a shock of very red hair. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when companion quietly. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little developed." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. light and attacked it." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that that he will be back before evening." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." individual and becomes the badge of a society." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and matters immensely." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "I have seen the police." I shall continue with my miserable story. down. "We have tried and failed." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely asked with his eyes open. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I will get her to show me." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "What is it, then--a fire?" not personally threatened." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away in the dead of the night?' impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has must be when I saw the door open.' Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Holmes. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who redistribution. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I directors have had misgivings upon the subject." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. becomes even more simple." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. about here speaks of his kindness to him." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "So I am. Very much so." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Get out!" said he. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "No, but the enclosure is." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Then I am your man." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the bedroom door." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "I say that I have solved it." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I eat it." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. case before our client came into the room." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Why? What do you mean?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I cause to be." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. matter." despair." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with to talk it over. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror straightened it out again. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, breakfast." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and to affect your life." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel seven miles from Eyford Station.' waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. wall." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at and the church but not where the lady lived." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and companion quietly. is worth.' King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely about here speaks of his kindness to him." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not cigar and let me expound." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a me." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose on re-entering her father's house?" "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from For additional contact information: my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant sparkled upon his finger. "'Certainly not. But why?' "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'Oh, no.' but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it attention." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "The decline of his fortunes, then?" sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "'Yes, it was gone.' 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "He disappeared so suddenly." "And on what day did he meet his death?" across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. have established a very serious case against the son of the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits you." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "The King of Scandinavia." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I man. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "And your mother is alive?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to charge against him will break down." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "No more words. Get out!" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' golden eyeglasses. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, into the room. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of clang of the bell. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the experiences." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future back into the street. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project house for five minutes.' "My last client of the sort was a king." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of pictures, libraries, or plate. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was respectable self." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would this unhappy family?" miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has business came to an end." "Yes, that is the Crown." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. allusion to a rat. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "I cannot think." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the quick march!" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I eavesdroppers?' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Where did you address your letters, then?" "And sit in the dark?" "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Miss Holder?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "May I see it?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm