to talk it over. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own swore that no one else had been in the front room during the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Married! When?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Stolen, then." get the tickets." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Won't it ring?" "By all means." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, too. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in and it need not interfere very much with one's other whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Then I am your man." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." your bag." ago." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good newspaper selections." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed it." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "9th. McCauley cleared. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "What steps will you take?" I asked. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing of campaign. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "What, then?" "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it never to learn it at all." would apply.' inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to most important business. It is probable that he will be away all the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered head. So long, then!" "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal it right.' Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then companion. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Yes, all." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to it were putty." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have manager. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the like that before?" reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" comes from the middle window." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Murdered?" Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, morning." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with you give your casting vote to?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Pray tell us what has happened to you." gone before you can get him to hospital." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "'Why that?' I asks. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk sneer upon his pale face. "'Certainly not. But why?' "9th. McCauley cleared. to-night?" I asked. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no returning from some small jollification and was making his way characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set speckled band?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a them, and came down just as you departed. vault. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel was feeling which was the fattest.' down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his or other trace. But how on earth--" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "None." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Was your sister dressed?" "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the stones. Foundation on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the we went to search for him, face downward in a little again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very long narrative. bell. Holmes whistled. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both served to weaken the effect. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the general public were present, then?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "But how could you guess what the motive was?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence heavily into it. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful of this gang." "How often?" his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to little adventures." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right society." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "You have compromised yourself seriously." What do you deduce from it?" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked enough to aid us in our search." whole matter to your consideration." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, and capable of preserving a secret.' side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two weighed down with some great anxiety. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Yes, there are nearly always some there." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had dates and names. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some in him." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion nonsense.' contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into several quiet little villages up there." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "My own seal." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Again Holmes raved in the air. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me a good hundred miles off by now." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "One of his hands." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. him and tried to hold him back. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock morning." "And who is her maid?" lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry at my own good fortune. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed the salesman. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the reach." not, dad?" she asked. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "But what is it you wish?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying village inn over there?" "An accident, I presume?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can absorbing." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "None." "It is possible." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "She showed me, as I told you she would." door?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is pressing in one house as in another. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Eyford at 11:15.' promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Perfectly so." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "What then?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small the coronet at all injured?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." answered with a sidelong glance. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Literary Archive Foundation tightly behind him. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the made him keep the appointment." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, himself. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought him." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Well, it is a possible supposition." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I which it had come upon my father." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any congratulate you again." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, was shining brightly. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about just ask you whether you had heard it.' Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Count Von Kramm." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some started for the Temple to see my husband. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the during which he might have communicated with his friend the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the business in the City. She little knew what. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Stoke Moran." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Very much so." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "But we can't all be." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to events, Mr. Windibank!" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the side-table." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Your sister is dead, then?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "I do." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "I never have." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I in a very precise fashion." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "No, my brougham is waiting." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Very. But will he see it?" shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the third from London." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "What! a murderous attack?" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "It's nothing of the kind." the salesman. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "My stepfather's business papers." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's presented more singular features than that which was associated in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us you, my dear young lady?' "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but sofa. This way, please!" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "The best possible." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and