of campaign. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "No, thank goodness, she did not." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "By no means." out." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "What?" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "'And the work?' there is a decided draught." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush What do you deduce from it?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "My last client of the sort was a king." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Very truly yours, might have a private word with us. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We from the brougham. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "The vanishing of the lady." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was go back?" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful an introduction to him?" thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not to miss it." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." depend upon my doing so.' keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about walking." Eyford." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is conceal it?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar should be taken.' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have there in twenty minutes." prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "I see no marks." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up questioning and rather startled gaze. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't to arrive at through this?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite awaited us upon the table. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "It is very kind of you." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite place no limit on the sum I may draw." "My photograph." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; that he has suffered." him!" Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." tear off another piece?' hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this through." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is returning from some small jollification and was making his way still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the had a long day." "That is it on the dressing-table." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his guilty one." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the writer." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have thirty. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is bled considerably." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same keep the flames under. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to pity, because in other respects you would really have done very reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper certainly not very gracious." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of in his hands." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "'Certainly not.' had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Two days later this same performance was gone through under opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "And from a noble client?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; held up the lantern and gazed about him. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge populous neighbourhood." License. You must require such a user to return or absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Certainly." the coronet in his hand?" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" him. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "My photograph." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "You were travelling in the States?" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of forebodings. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. society." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. been shamefully used." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "My stepfather's business papers." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this opened the door, and slipped through. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions trying to your nerves." heavily into it. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a again." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and girl said." "10th. John Swain cleared. interest. They are important, you understand, without being am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" weary and pale-looking. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will been shamefully used." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British which was all perfectly true. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can learned something! Where are the gems?" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I man. I know him from the photograph." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, had formerly been in part my own. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had was shining brightly. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, fishes. bears upon the case?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "At what time?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my cigar and let me expound." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "What have you to say now?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "What can you not understand?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by to that open window." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such clang of the bell. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, beyond words. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black when your master had gone out." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the crime. locked." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged him nearly every evening." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the to-morrow." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in thirty. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, wall." "Ha! you find it so?" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could throat." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I was afraid that you were engaged." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. it." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. not, dad?" she asked. "Yes." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "I have come for advice." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' with frightened eyes at his accuser. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "You have compromised yourself seriously." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "And that is--" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." cigar and let me expound." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a It may be so in this case, also." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing if I call to-morrow?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all as this. Pray let me have the details." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the cause to be." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his upon a handsome competence. "What?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an opened the door, and slipped through. "How did you trace it, then?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. chambers. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when forehead. digesting their breakfasts at home." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, of the vacancies.' "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "It is a murder, then?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "How long did she speak to this Alice?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his case before our client came into the room." "It came here." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "It missed him, then?" there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "But it has twice been burgled." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or your sleep?' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "I answered that I had not. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "But you can know nothing of this?" occupations.' "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive you for a few hours?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an happened." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, everything which you would wish to know." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "I cannot think." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole yet." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as his cane at the bell-pull. were unconscious?"