that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to followed. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." empty. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards promised to bring home. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and McCarthy." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less national property. I was determined that the law should have its "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "'Certainly,' I answered. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the date of his supposed suicide." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you in him." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Yes, it was twisted." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable bears upon the case?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Bought." official police." His name is Francis Prosper." "Then I shall certainly come." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon to-morrow." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "You have carte blanche." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an crowd. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the redistribution. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." think that any burglar could have done. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking me. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "It came here." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes very old mansion. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a some terrible trap for her." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "I am all attention, madam." "I cannot imagine." cost them two and thirty pounds." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a what I may call a really hard day's work." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that is entirely a question of barometric pressure." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming prepare for the new role I have to play." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "No, I had a dozen." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" colour had been driven from his face. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you matter." the Red-headed League." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and house for five minutes.' a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on of." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "You have compromised yourself seriously." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "But what is it you wish?" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I matter over." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "It is half-past ten now." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. article?" the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Well, it is a possible supposition." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make at my own good fortune. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. quickly through a disagreeable task. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big you." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but over his head with a sweet womanly caress. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "He said that you could solve anything." "'I am sure if I had known--' is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away read over the extraordinary announcement. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. if I call to-morrow?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "And how in the world did you find them?" persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more such attractions and accomplishments?' companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "And Irene Adler?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been side. would apply.' for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the occupations.' been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the tragedy. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "I am to be neutral?" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Holmes' room. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a it." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we begin with, and I had not got mine yet." chance at all." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm arrested. You then--" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of to his chemical studies. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "You horrify me!" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "No, thank goodness, she did not." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a fire. You quite follow me?" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "I am about to be married." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. voice. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn never came back." "I know where it is." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so did not hear it also.' "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "You'll never persuade me to believe that." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying neither fascinating nor artistic." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "I say that I have solved it." have established a very serious case against the son of the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send chance." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, will take you up to see the machine.' "It was." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It impression behind it as though a window had gently closed had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "No sign of it?" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but recover the gem." "And leave your case unfinished?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to be best to do. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. that threaten you." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Were they all fastened this morning?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw or other trace. But how on earth--" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Street. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has business?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "'Then let me do so?' "Certainly." young Openshaw's." "The King of Scandinavia." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless enough to aid us in our search." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll my room." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he for its centre. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is roused himself from his reverie. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. most interesting one." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual garden below. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in our word." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her the date of his supposed suicide." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own you do it in twenty minutes!' 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, a monotonous occupation." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could searched, without anything being found which could incriminate from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing see me here to avoid scandal." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the address that was given us in the advertisement. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that chamber." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Look there!" said he. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "It may not come to that," said Holmes. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The money should be paid at once.' followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced mystery!" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked you." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am delighted to hear it," he said. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "How did he come?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door his huge brown hands. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in answer." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the then?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the chill to my heart. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Then, how do you know?" B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "About a month then." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of discontent upon his features. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Come in!" said Holmes. fat-encircled eyes. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small beg that you will break it off." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must silent! Oh, he will be silent!' to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the I shall continue with my miserable story. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad coroner's jury." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I take the flies, but not before." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and again." keep the flames under. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down you for a few hours?" "'Yes, I promise.' "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Quite so." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless for the market.' better grown goose." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the skylight. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, look upon these things in a different way." as he remarks, very much against the son." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Yes." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely