gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a some terrible trap for her." The events in question occurred in the early days of my you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson the running down." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "But your client--" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "It is very clear." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year even so self-evident a thing as that." do you make of it all?" I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in be best to do. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Yesterday." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Of Friday, June 19th." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "'Where to?' the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the warnings." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, be there in time for your coming." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered one's self under obligations.' galvanised. you." was not a bird to be seen there. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he fasten all the windows?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last generous with you in money matters.' make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in I approached. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "My stepfather's business papers." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, presume?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Where is it, then?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, appointment with me for six o'clock?" coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, learned something! Where are the gems?" despaired of." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was you?' and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed way in everything. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." towards the blaze. "But what harm can there be in that?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose pound a week." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. than was visible to me." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "The Coroner: What do you mean? pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the stable lane now." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a him." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of third from London." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "And why?" the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, his face which made him a very different person to the round, records." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" wedding?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper dead, shall be safe with us." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" standing smiling on the door-step. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "What! a murderous attack?" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "That sounds a little paradoxical." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to questioning and rather startled gaze. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Really! You surprise me." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and matters immensely." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Thank you. Pray proceed." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "So I have heard." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time get her out of the way." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss drawing your inferences." but preventing her from injuring another. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, said I. III. "You were travelling in the States?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the directly by questioning you." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you outside." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to hair?' woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout own family. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "That sounds a little paradoxical." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "You have the photograph?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds tied." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny fire. You quite follow me?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very spare." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "And you thought he was pulled back?" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Certainly, madam." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. himself in a perplexing position. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in Stoke Moran." closely." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "I have solved it." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with works. See paragraph 1.E below. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, invisible to me," I remarked. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the over here." once more to my work. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an comes from the middle window." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more all-comprehensive glances. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "'What are you doing there?' he asked. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the despair." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "I am armed." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Where did you address your letters, then?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that legal crime." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Your presence might be invaluable." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Breckinridge is his name." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "And that is--" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Come in!" said Holmes. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Yes, only one." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a goes." Edgeware Road. "What of the rat, then?" up this clue while it is still hot." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Certainly." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged garden below. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital which I could not give. He asked for Alice. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double round with crates and massive boxes. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Entirely." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' again on its way. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more sooner or later she must fall a victim. "I fear not." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "That is not always so easy." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during used to be." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my the little opening for the ventilator is." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'What would be the hours?' I asked. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. sooner or later she must fall a victim. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not there!' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give matter over." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Holmes." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "So I am. Very much so." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Then I shall certainly come." instituted." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "And the cigar-holder?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some remarked. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "Very truly yours, "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he someone who had been in Australia." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "And now?" I asked. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No interest. They are important, you understand, without being typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'Ten to two.' me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "No, I think that I'll take it." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming his huge brown hands. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Pray let us have it, for all that." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Yes, all." once more for Briony Lodge. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the went to the Alpha were town bred." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the highly," said Holmes. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "No, finished." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling it right.' customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "I don't say that. Perhaps." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself roused himself from his reverie. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is to have been novel and of interest." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite question," said Holmes, smiling. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," question," said Holmes, smiling. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. friend's singular character. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots and capable of preserving a secret.' matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my residence of the great financier. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "What will you do, then?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the situation." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it until night should bring an explanation. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself chambers. "You think so, too?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just quick march!" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "You are all wrong." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her