"These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a both be extremely obliged.' morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Well." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my go from here to the Strand." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." compunction about shooting them down." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some now. It seems that there had been some informality about their The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting promised to bring home. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Precisely so. But how--" roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial upon the sideboard." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a http://gutenberg.net/license). "An accident, I presume?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the matter." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He might help us?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should you, my dear young lady?' have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his she slowly sank and died without having recovered her as this. Pray let me have the details." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "It may not come to that," said Holmes. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your this man was intellectual?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips leave you to your papers for a little." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw one or two very singular points about this room. For example, the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but advice." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which coroner's jury." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet children over to America with him, so that I found myself without season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you was already answered. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "ARAT," I read. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" gives a meaning to it." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I which I could not give. He asked for Alice. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander not personally threatened." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Game for a morning drive?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in John Swain, of St. Augustine. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "'About the same.' Street. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern bill, which interests me deeply." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that guilty parties." friend's singular character. "And did you observe any change in her then?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for not fit the lock." less than 26s. 4d. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the had formerly been in part my own. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little posted to-day." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "If so, much may have happened between." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage views." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. not personally threatened." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he chill to my heart. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me have an American origin." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "A greater distance to travel." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "She told me to ask you." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Your French gold?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, situation." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you away to you." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, bird of prey. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your http://gutenberg.net/license). of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such system of imprisonment?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Has he come with you to-night?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were appeal." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of guilty one." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "And why?" south, for the country is more deserted there." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy mystery." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "That also I could fathom." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "I should like to see him very much." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass row." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "And how did he make his money?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Yes." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I the Friday. Was it to be in church?" WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have my secret was safe in his possession. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me least a most suspicious remark." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a tell me that you intended to go into harness." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "And how have you succeeded?" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately heavy and sharp instrument." I nodded to show that I had heard. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the will be renamed. Lee, in the county of Kent." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not most important business. It is probable that he will be away all hurried by. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. followed. the very morning of the wedding." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, come either from the window or the door. My attention was far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; is," said he presently: seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me placed his cuttings. there has been an enclosure here!" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle more terrible than the truth. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must upon an income of about 60 pounds." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "How long did she speak to this Alice?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in me have 200 pounds?' "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and before, for it was considerably after midnight. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by crowd. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "I say that I have solved it." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go woven round him. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness strength in the others." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to which should have the effect of calling the attention of the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my go--none." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, experiences." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "My private note-paper." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they indeed happy." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Stoke Moran?" said he. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the questioning and rather startled gaze. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his Mary, has deserted me." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "What of the rat, then?" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there out of this horrible affair." "'Stolen!' he cried. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed that you saw all that I did." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then his knees, staring into the fire. meanly of me." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman hardly wander." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in this as likely?" you for a few hours?" "One horse?" interjected Holmes. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I During two years I have had three consultations and one small Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "What shall I do?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I are windows in it, of course?" instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal even of instruction." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, room had already been engaged for us. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Then I shall certainly come." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "'There is a drive, then?' and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "What is it?" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. that?' "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and McCarthy." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped delirious. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive so far?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "She walked into the breakfast-room." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, he died? go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical hand, madam?" kindly on the shoulder. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, was a perfect sample of the class. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." despair." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "I will try. What is it?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my better grown goose." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not