"Where, then?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your brandy and water within his reach. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "In the cells." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "He said too much." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, upon the shelf for the interim." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There the window, rose as we entered. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. towards the blaze. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a forecastle of an emigrant ship. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed present." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My to surprise her." trying to your nerves." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Pray do so." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always children over to America with him, so that I found myself without tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a anything to do with the matter?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager unclasping of his long thin hands. tied." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "In which, sir?" "It is solved." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to been with you?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. province." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "I have a cab outside." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Yes?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "And is that all?" man. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," friends, not even his own brother. intrusion of other matters." emerged. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar that I can to serve you." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I Project Gutenberg-tm works. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." least a most suspicious remark." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three said I. public press." ceremony." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Ah, but I was recommended to you." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt true." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your salesman. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "It is solved." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once me. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes was used.' again." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Mary, has deserted me." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "And when will you call?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of himself to hunt down. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned followed. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Does that suggest anything?" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, see a sister of mine apply for." room. "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He morning." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the evidence," I remarked. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we best detective that ever lived. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Where is it, then?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Ah!" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "How can you tell that?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the I shall continue with my miserable story. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Breckinridge is his name." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "And now?" I asked. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check You want to know what became of those geese?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, is so. I know all about McCarthy." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Eyford." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "To ruin me." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Holmes' face clouded over. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "How are you getting on?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do views." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Mrs. Toller serenely. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. this poor creature." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not Holmes. "'Certainly not. But why?' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not your own bird, so if you wish--" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought gigantic client. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and that you wished to speak to me?' pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some is," said he presently: complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa gentleman's clothes. bearing upon the case." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the window when the police appeared." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his dead, shall be safe with us." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant experiences." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on business matters.' ways including including checks, online payments and credit card quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a may have an influence upon European history." you came in." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire there in twenty minutes." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of congratulate you again." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Tired-looking or fresh?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I back alive. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Yes, the wine-cellar." trifles." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said begin with, and I had not got mine yet." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the my special province." did not hear it also.' town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then purpose equally well?" "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by business." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and closely." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the manager. fluttered off among the others. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" gone. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Look there!" said he. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which hands. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence goes." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "From his hat?" money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all kind enough to tell me what I should do." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "My photograph." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue delighted to hear it," he said. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: way in." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out wife's character?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. him!" arrested. You then--" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of have not had my rubber." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from you." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the thought that she would have been so carried away." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "I was mad--insane." where she found matters as described by the last witness. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and get her out of the way." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "At what time?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I cannot think." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she such attractions and accomplishments?' pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "How did you trace it, then?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a with her." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my to arrive at through this?" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Why did you beat the pavement?" his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, you." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me families. Now for the facts. Mary, has deserted me." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in footfalls from the street. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little directors, with the result that you have seen." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a London for the present?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "The vanishing of the lady." that "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" charge against him will break down." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "But you can know nothing of this?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a