was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, six. Come in!" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." newspaper selections." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that derbies." a monotonous occupation." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! hardly wander." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of questioning and rather startled gaze. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will Lee, in the county of Kent." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, affair. as he folded up the epistle. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap constraint." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no her also." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. stammered. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case important." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Surrey." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can McCarthy's innocence. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the little opening for the ventilator is." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Really! You surprise me." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the if she died from some sudden fright." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room evidence," I remarked. "Can I be of assistance?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of young Openshaw's." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. until night should bring an explanation. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you guilty parties." made his money." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his will not take me long to tell. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." case-book, which he consulted. "Then the page we have seen--" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and you." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Very well, sir. And this stone?" John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Where did he live, then?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only crowd. "'Then let me do so?' elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" What do you deduce from it?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is acted in my house last night?" Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window his cane at the bell-pull. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I recover the gem." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the hurried away. she used." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "That is not always so easy." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, is acting for the best. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with lips." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "It was a confession," I ejaculated. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it drawing your inferences." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across where she found matters as described by the last witness. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than outside." nonsense.' and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of not, dad?" she asked. "You horrify me!" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "When did it break out?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our cigars in the box." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as himself to tell his story. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as the inquest, and which are worth considering." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, coroner's jury." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in our word." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but British peeress.'" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the there when the Rucastles went away." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. whether it answered to the description of any of their "I see no marks." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank rat could hardly pass through." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was observed. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Never." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the were unconscious?" allusion to a rat. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Which surely he restored to their owner?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want there in twenty minutes." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too questionable one." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations the room while you explain this matter?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Oh, yes, easily." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke rat could hardly pass through." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" once more for Briony Lodge. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" maid will bring up your coffee." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as your room." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of affection." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different as yours." what I may call a really hard day's work." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "No." "Why? What do you mean?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' corner of the building. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "An accident, I presume?" in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. is worth.' eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "You know me, then?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to your only hope of safety." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, seem to you to be relevant or not." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "What have you to say now?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." think you a quite exceptional woman." shall use the carriage to-night." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, strode off upon his way. it. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered character. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." your Highness to the police-station?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" chance at all." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." certainly not very gracious." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the business?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Ample." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he your own bird, so if you wish--" terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I think it very unlikely." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "My dear Holmes!" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "On your arm?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring always that they were such commands as a lady might with even so self-evident a thing as that." outside." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the ceiling. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I II. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Yes. He waved his hands." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he there were so many in the whole country as were brought together was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler me have 200 pounds?' the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too be best to do. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." know all about it," he snarled. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Holmes' room. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Yes, he did." "My private note-paper." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between so.' a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An from the brougham. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as and your relations to her." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I have hopes." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his child?' furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the there is a decided draught." License. You must require such a user to return or over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "And you thought he was pulled back?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing