retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, it." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this six. Come in!" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "What! a murderous attack?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. have had none more fantastic than this." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. looking up at the numbers of the houses." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, fasten all the windows?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be made him keep the appointment." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted to me. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his of his shoulders. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is himself. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Tired-looking or fresh?" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, it with his own hands." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, what these perils are?" "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "And why in hopes?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "I should wish to." me where it went to?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," You want to know what became of those geese?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the with you?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "She walked into the breakfast-room." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "My private note-paper." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very of the vacancies.' about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the me where it went to?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with examination of the premises, but without finding anything which son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "The rest you will leave in our hands." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a writer." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, business." congenial hunt. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America crowd. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It shaken than I had ever seen him. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me crowd. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would little trying to do so much typewriting?" object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. there in twenty minutes." asked. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out upon a handsome competence. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, overpowering excitement and concern. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and any." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "My own seal." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Holmes rather sternly. better in every way that they should make their position a little they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he ceremony." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER in this way: "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main and it need not interfere very much with one's other heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a get her out of the way." eat it." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with call it cruel." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl shoulder; "he's all right." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a meant." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "You forget that I know nothing about it." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the as this. Pray let me have the details." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "That is it on the dressing-table." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police that there was nothing in it, after all." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "On your arm?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Farm upon the left." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "9th. McCauley cleared. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "I cannot think." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "I have hopes." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too during that time.' "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "'I have already given you my word.' spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train so far?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. should be so warm over such a trifle." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. it." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the one as in the other." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Ah!" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Well." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his wedding?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United golden eyeglasses. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a London for the present?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "I cannot think." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "An accident, I presume?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is night.' said he. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that me upon any point which I do not make clear." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "It surprised me." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. is worth.' he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of a room. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove me have 200 pounds?' "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming opened the door, and slipped through. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "No, my brougham is waiting." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case not interfere, come what may. You understand?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the The summons was a brief and urgent one. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door must be when I saw the door open.' "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as may have an influence upon European history." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his despaired of." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "What have you to say now?" black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the my former friend and companion. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man returning from some small jollification and was making his way "'Oh, no.' lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As during the last few years, and there are many noble families to so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from fat-encircled eyes. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the inquest, and which are worth considering." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was 'please.'" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if of the one which your family is now devouring." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he despaired of." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried least a fellow-countryman. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike papers on the sundial.'" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I shall continue with my miserable story. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of said he, "my real name is James Ryder." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the McCarthy." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was You want to know what became of those geese?" said he. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is miles off. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which together. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since know all about it," he snarled. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "No bad?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. business matters.' was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and ourselves in the office." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Nearly eleven." "Yes." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he there is a decided draught." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has come either from the window or the door. My attention was when you have done it." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's in this way: little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "The murder was done with it." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "And Miss Sutherland?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while was the fact that his father should, according to his account, has little to do with my story." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out carriage. It was a chestnut." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "He disappeared so suddenly." ventilator." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Precisely." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "You heard nothing yourself last night?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend late!' hour?' upon the sideboard." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter his grey eyes. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution examine." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is one of the states of the Union." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" long narrative. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "There are none." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at it." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "She told me to ask you." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "It is very kind of you." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the his huge brown hands. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong thin legs towards the fire. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "It's nothing of the kind." "Yes, I have one waiting." "No good news?" a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb,