"Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a delighted to hear it," he said. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any the child." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging distance from the station, and there we found the young lady and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Yes, sir." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. spark where all is dark to me." business." you for a few hours?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of I took the paper from him and read as follows: "The Coroner: What do you mean? done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the States. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "What steps will you take?" I asked. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are key of the affair now." the station." Clair, of Lee." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of asked. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "'Yes, sir.' often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. it. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Street. read it out to me." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with brought there to personate someone, and the real person is room. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you seven miles from Eyford Station.' of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here meanly of me." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." rose-bushes. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Why serious?" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left pound a week." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. question," said Holmes, smiling. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you front of me. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I opened the door, and slipped through. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said his eyes and forehead. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Your presence might be invaluable." McCarthy's innocence. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was call for it in person on Monday morning.' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, round and wave him away like that.' again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my instituted." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "My last client of the sort was a king." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." discontent upon his features. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do in his power. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a ways of our fellow-men." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging with the outside air!" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Have you it here?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." once more for Briony Lodge. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have upon the shelf for the interim." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of as he folded up the epistle. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Well, it is a possible supposition." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "But she could not love him." returned to France?" "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that the roots. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just their singular warning or token before them when starting upon matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly directors, with the result that you have seen." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is of Mr. Rucastle's." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to key turn in the lock." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Nothing." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a bird I ate is country bred." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in highly," said Holmes. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it Chief Executive and Director conversation I have gathered that they have been married about provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He to some other building. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Then I can wait in the next room." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "And I." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly acted in my house last night?" he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very something of him before." Munro.' to that open window." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Holmes' face clouded over. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "We must have a cab." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My very peculiar words of the dying woman?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Which are?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' people in all walks of life. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to III. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared the side-table." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I should wish to." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be may have an influence upon European history." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric ashen face. ceremony." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. arrested. You then--" vanished into the darkness. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without deduce something from that?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain attention." our word." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a lectures into a series of tales." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and get the tickets." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, sufficient punishment." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." forebodings. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Dr. Becher's." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen and put his glass in his pocket. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank mysterious business." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and might have a private word with us. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish It may be so in this case, also." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE ordinary clothes on?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "But the mystery?" "Is he quiet?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "You'll never persuade me to believe that." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This companion. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a redistribution. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and to that open window." done what I asked you, Jones?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' lids now and glanced across at his visitor. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Literary Archive Foundation me. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." night.' said he. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger outside." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "'There is a drive, then?' France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the later, upon the night of May 2nd." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their these bleak autumnal evenings." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, with some details as to your case." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'Yes, I promise.' thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the she used." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the them?" workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some occupations.' extraordinary contortions. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been be.' which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. most interesting one." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "And the murderer?" "What is it?" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There down. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the very morning of the wedding." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you problems help me to do so." you?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in residence of the great financier. be. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance address. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "It came here." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "There are none." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the power." "You horrify me!" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just