heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's is a common subject for conversation. photograph?" money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his province." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the least a fellow-countryman. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely again on its way. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then My friend smiled. problems help me to do so." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "But the mystery?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant stammered. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I opportunities to fix the problem. "But it has twice been burgled." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "It looks newer than the other things?" I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Could he throw no light?" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin about. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until me have 200 pounds?' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts answered with a sidelong glance. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "I shall be delighted." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand gone. "You forget that I know nothing about it." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by yourselves in at night?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "But what harm can there be in that?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing fire. You quite follow me?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have depend upon my doing so.' so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own bled considerably." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Of Friday, June 19th." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp tightly behind him. examine." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "'What do you call purely nominal?' "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "You are all wrong." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, me have 200 pounds?' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that within hail.' every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed woman who has had her own way to make in the world. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I answered that I had not. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into fish-monger and a tide-waiter." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two have not had my rubber." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the inquest, and which are worth considering." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "What can you not understand?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down you for a few hours?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Frequently." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "In answer to an advertisement." me." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and intrusion of other matters." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "At what time?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one should be so warm over such a trifle." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Certainly." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand in his hands." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "No?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I am about to be married." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Your sister is dead, then?" gentleman's clothes. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that to his chemical studies. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "But she could not love him." "And when will you call?" Leadenhall Street--and--" allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Absolutely none." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been important." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Pray tell us what has happened to you." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Holmes rather sternly. "How do you know, then?" "No, distinctly professional." ceremony." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his to-night?" I asked. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Munro.' How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "At the wedding breakfast." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to minor matters until to-morrow." with frightened eyes at his accuser. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "What! Had he lost his wife?" happened." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my way in." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what nothing with him." Pool. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Where, then?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend soul! here is her carriage at the door." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added think that he is innocent?" "Then he might have called to you?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "You were travelling in the States?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I am to be neutral?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "What will you do, then?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young lamp. make me his representative both with the servants and with the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich you." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my never came back." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the correct than the official force." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a know that the truth is known." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "But his left-handedness." time." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing down. your troubles." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than from you?" "She told me to ask you." have accepted such a situation. "What! You do not mean bodies?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I cannot imagine." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "My last client of the sort was a king." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes examine." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, best detective that ever lived. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, dead, shall be safe with us." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." pierced for earrings?" force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he article?" moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, himself to tell his story. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running populous neighbourhood." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been not interfere, come what may. You understand?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "By all means." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "It is solved." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran she used." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Then I am your man." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "The vanishing of the lady." point in the dark hollow of his hand. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared held up the lantern and gazed about him. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the dangers which encompass me." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Stolen." sooner or later she must fall a victim. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good someone who had been in Australia." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a DISSOLVED. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "That's no good." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "No, finished." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a something of him before." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he will he say when he returns?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was ordinary clothes on?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "And I." think, you have already met." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple danger is over." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Where did he live, then?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "No." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a whereabouts. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. of campaign. "Ah!" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "I warn you that they are very incomplete." congenial hunt. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six ceremony." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of photograph?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." existence." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began laugh and put his lips to my ear. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I window when the police appeared." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his plantation.' once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "And how did you find out?" "You think so, too?" the bed, and you in that chair." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Then I am your man." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "But what will you do?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We main points of my analysis." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of within hail.' "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent.