lost nothing by them." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "And now?" He raised his hand. "But you have hopes?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to excitement. "And how did he make his money?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "You horrify me." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking paper in the air. everything which you would wish to know." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, detective. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that memory. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "No?" not, dad?" she asked. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally question. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free formed some opinion?" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Not I." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for second window is the one that I jumped from." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "But how?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. asked. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears believe that I should never have any practice at all. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Ha! you find it so?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "I was mad--insane." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "We have tried and failed." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Count Von Kramm." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at closely." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "And what did you see?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough back alive. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Holmes." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was fatally injured? dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it shaken than I had ever seen him. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." acted in my house last night?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if weapon." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the so-precious time, but come!' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "At what time?" his grey eyes. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right never will be, entirely cleared up. act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Breckinridge is his name." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE you in your example." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on of the vacancies.' His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in not within a twentieth part of the market price." her also." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird presume?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "But to whom?" the little opening for the ventilator is." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the if I call to-morrow?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. has little to do with my story." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was one of them." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Tired-looking or fresh?" might have a private word with us. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "He might." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other there in twenty minutes." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the child." carried out of court." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a were new raised from a basin. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such look dissatisfied." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a hopeless attempt at recovering them." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock key of the affair now." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Look there!" said he. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this 'I should be able to look after that for you.' own family. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every have one." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "How can you tell that?" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar mystery." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "No. His orders were to stay in the house." garden below. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them good-night and bustled off upon her way. me." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a past. "That you are never beaten." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "But what is it you wish?" upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of impression behind it as though a window had gently closed seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of miles off. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. advice." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of said I. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." wall." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Ah!" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we room. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his that, and I came down." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'It is locked up,' I answered. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Just look it up, then." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid to a more successful conclusion." crime. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Very murderous indeed." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many figure." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small tail." character. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. sound at heart." "I have hopes." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "And Irene Adler?" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the was lame." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently and wait." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford that you wished to speak to me?' in a friendly supper." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "She will not sell." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is comes from the middle window." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." so.' the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among little adventures." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her woman." "My photograph." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and back into the street. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded friend's singular character. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our been with you?" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a showing my impatience. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Very murderous indeed." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. http://www.gutenberg.net when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "And when will you call?" know that the truth is known." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Won't it ring?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the mystery may be cleared along those lines." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. photograph?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled companion imperturbably. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said existence." business at Coburg Square is serious." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Very. But will he see it?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray burst into a hearty fit of laughter. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "If so, much may have happened between." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was and effective." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the to a more successful conclusion." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted as the one I chose?' demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Lee, in the county of Kent." my little problems." there was no need for father to know." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Farm upon the left." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully exactly what you advise." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "In San Francisco, a year ago." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Seven!" I answered. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. which it had come upon my father." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other very old mansion. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers to go into your room and bar your shutters?" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Murdered?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. golden eyeglasses. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Mary, has deserted me." you do it in twenty minutes!' clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth