eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am key turn in the lock." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man there in twenty minutes." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." tail." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "And what did you learn from him?" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "'Yes, sir.' "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked father's young wife. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the guilty parties." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, other lovers by making love himself." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated and inquire as to the address." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back dates and names. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. one which it was hard to resist. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining laugh and put his lips to my ear. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "I am in hopes that she does." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with gone. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in face and glided from the room. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Yes." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the have one." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, words came to my lips. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this tightly behind him. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "I don't say that. Perhaps." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. States. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Why, what do you mean?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "In answer to an advertisement." "Come in!" said Holmes. you?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I cannot think." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' him to be an active member of the medical profession." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Why serious?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his you." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always bird I ate is country bred." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. October 9, 1890. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." lost his Christmas dinner." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, You want to know what became of those geese?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment place of silver." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were our word." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "'There is a drive, then?' these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so foresight and the moral retrogression?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "How are you getting on?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "And who is her maid?" "A client, then?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Never." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took indeed which he could not unravel. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." to Leatherhead. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was to have been novel and of interest." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the where we are going." not within a twentieth part of the market price." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, our word." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "None. Neville wrote those words." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The straightened it out again. McCarthy's innocence. not fit the lock." hereditary King of Bohemia." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed nice household for a young lady." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Not particularly." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "This concluded the examination of the witness." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged of." "The vanishing of the lady." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, plantation.' morning." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Seven!" I answered. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled The events in question occurred in the early days of my He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat comes from the middle window." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double despair." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she do.' concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, and looked back. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Tired-looking or fresh?" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite hurried by. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it once more. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the one of them." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Yes." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "'What do you call purely nominal?' impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew once more for Briony Lodge. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Stolen, then." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "It certainly sounds feasible." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the sufficient punishment." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared it." skylight. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a you came in." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Absolutely?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately 1.E.9. "'I shall certainly be there.' "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Ah!" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Breckinridge is his name." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "And what did you see?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." sound at heart." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three as he folded up the epistle. your equipment. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. where we are going." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "I cannot as yet see any connection." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended Where does the thing come from?' have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Yes." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "He is still with you, I presume?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But posted to-day." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." upon an income of about 60 pounds." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled a very grave face. I shall continue with my miserable story. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my own family. words came to my lips. "Perhaps we may make them less so." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your posted to-day." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Upon what point?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less eat it." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO individual and becomes the badge of a society." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "I am following you closely," I answered. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had train.' "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Thank you. Pray proceed." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "None." whatever might befall. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards frequently gained my first real insight into the character of into the bag, and made for the door. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "We have tried and failed." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon know that the truth is known." shoulder; "he's all right." chair. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. I nodded again. forecastle of an emigrant ship. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "One?" "What I expected to see." were unconscious?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was hurried away. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "No good news?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded most important business. It is probable that he will be away all each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Murdered?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. house for five minutes.' deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without interest. They are important, you understand, without being retorted upon me, and I on you." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a considering the formidable letters which were received by himself him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it and all of them with the keenest interest. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Never." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was