gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back will take you up to see the machine.' desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture impression behind it as though a window had gently closed usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform of them has the shutters up.' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was quick march!" was not a bird to be seen there. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become never will be, entirely cleared up. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Watson," he said cordially. "And the cigar-holder?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that in his power. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you ashen face. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, straighten it?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out of the vacancies.' know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did man. I know him from the photograph." and the colonel ushered me in. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "And from a noble client?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, have not had my rubber." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his that I can to serve you." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Lee, in the county of Kent." gentleman's clothes. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for rooms." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the one of them." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the tragedy. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the compunction about shooting them down." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away the matter." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case events than those which have happened in my own family." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An your own bird, so if you wish--" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Well, some hundreds of times." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the foot. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to appeared upon the scene." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "And the cigar-holder?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." furiously. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you new duties?' and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Then how many are there?" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Again Holmes raved in the air. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "What of the rat, then?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of round and wave him away like that.' writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." yards of it?' society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Yes." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post easy-going way." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "How did he come?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you of a light. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "I answered that I had not. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. never will be, entirely cleared up. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "It is true that I have been generally successful." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Seven!" I answered. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear are, and they are waiting for us." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to appeared upon the scene." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit take the flies, but not before." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave 'please.'" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my detained." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "But to whom?" door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I against a man in the prime of life?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Because he was handy and would come cheap." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come bears upon the case?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband dates and names. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first I held the little printed slip to the light. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself one else, I think." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "That is possible." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "And how in the world did you find them?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "She told me to ask you." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Then the page we have seen--" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last undoubtedly my uncle's." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. a good hundred miles off by now." "Pray continue your narrative." whole matter to your consideration." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Eh? What was that?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility you." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest your own bird, so if you wish--" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a him and tried to hold him back. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by From what you have told me I think that it is possible that very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of might have a private word with us. "What! Had he lost his wife?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "When did it break out?" of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. affair. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the one of the states of the Union." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. to affect your life." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose bears upon the case?" derbies." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' you." constraint." that threaten you." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you this man was intellectual?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "I have seen the police." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called several quiet little villages up there." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Nothing?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite narrative." "Yes. He waved his hands." himself in a perplexing position. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some your most interesting statement." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his over with notes and figures. straightened it out again. shall not find me ungrateful." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried flock.' When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "No, I think that I'll take it." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "But how?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his waste of energy." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our undoubtedly my uncle's." ordinary clothes on?" Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we criminal. We have already had experience of such." should be so warm over such a trifle." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did to me. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Precisely so. But how--" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? in a very precise fashion." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we when your master had gone out." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I at home. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "But what will you do?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in do.' very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were to-night?" I asked. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar thin, with a long, sharp nose?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Thank you. And your address?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said straightened it out again. "'And what salary do you ask?' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. is acting for the best. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so long narrative. "'Yes, it was gone.' drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when some place of shelter and let the county police know what has over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? is four-and-twenty." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. me. You must get home instantly and act." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a the morning and make my own way in the world.' "'What would be the hours?' I asked. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency McCarthy." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps second." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help you." "And how in the world did you find them?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door for securing the situation." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a tightly behind him. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm leaning back in his chair. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those fish-monger and a tide-waiter." you in yours." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I will take you up to see the machine.' "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that copied or distributed: other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I cannot say that I have." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "And why?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at hard-headed British jury." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the one as in the other." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Your presence might be invaluable." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped is so. I know all about McCarthy." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment