one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "My last client of the sort was a king." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Deserted you?" safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for time." quick march!" chambers. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the Assizes." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. them, and came down just as you departed. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right meant it for the best. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given his face. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and could not have written that. It is the German who is so fluttered off among the others. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'Yes, I promise.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with habit of advancing money.' painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat him to be an active member of the medical profession." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. stalked out of the room. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of noise which awoke you from your sleep?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, himself in a perplexing position. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until that he has suffered." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have vanished into the darkness. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have coroner's jury." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily empty. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Yes, but only for you and me." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the away to you." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up in. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not will be renamed. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Bought." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and ceremony." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Oh, fresh and glossy." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. your equipment. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Married! When?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Not I." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "What?" brandy and water within his reach. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to our word." to me. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to any." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" when you have done it." was a perfect sample of the class. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, together. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you affair. salesman. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my Countess of Morcar's?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you him to be an active member of the medical profession." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "If I can be of use." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came minor matters until to-morrow." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' sofa. This way, please!" possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this signal between you and your father? "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider His name is Francis Prosper." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key be sorry for having acted so harshly." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. indeed which he could not unravel. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it digesting their breakfasts at home." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy away to you." the coronet in his hand?" rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "The King of Scandinavia." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "I will do it." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Well, some hundreds of times." at my own good fortune. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into attention." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, south, for the country is more deserted there." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I should wish to." standing smiling on the door-step. opened the door, and slipped through. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, him." enough to aid us in our search." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil followed. My friend smiled. Holmes' thin, eager face. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A himself in a perplexing position. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "What will you say?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Holmes, the busybody!" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events deduce something from that?" I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I is now desirous of getting those letters back." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle fluttered off among the others. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Has he come with you to-night?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing one else, I think." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg companion. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had was used.' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking voice, changing her seat as requested. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you to-night?' "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "My dear Holmes!" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it strength of mind to control. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "And your father? Did you tell him?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, interests were the same as his." quite distinctive." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Certainly, madam." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew out of this horrible affair." must compliment you." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "No more words. Get out!" everything which you would wish to know." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Tired-looking or fresh?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the papers diligently of late, have you not?" madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. heavily into it. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "A thing like a cleaver," said he. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, compunction about shooting them down." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you have an American origin." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court I have it here in my museum." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with crime." "To an English lawyer named Norton." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I will try. What is it?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." when your master had gone out." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "Pray do so." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough along the entire front of the house, with three long windows thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case details." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only sound at heart." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of lumber-room." him and tried to hold him back. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "And how in the world did you find them?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Eyford at 11:15.' I shall communicate with you." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, least a fellow-countryman. occurred." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there not fit the lock." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "And when will you call?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which as he remarks, very much against the son." "It is possible." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden singular points about the case. What did the police think of the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was garden below. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a a little more before I quite committed myself. "Game for a morning drive?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of has little to do with my story." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Yes, it was twisted." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had up this clue while it is still hot." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it his fortune, and I went back to pa. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Dr. Gregory B. Newby The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent like gravel from a pit.' It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to stammered. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The certainly do as you advise." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced photograph?" contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid spark where all is dark to me." make me his representative both with the servants and with the "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the people in all walks of life. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was up this clue while it is still hot." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to cheerful." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an it were putty." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" visitors." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon the one as in the other." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Have you her photograph?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe in him." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Eh? What was that?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and