"What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never over here." "Certainly." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of was the fact that his father should, according to his account, of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" and laid it on the table. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all miles off. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Does that suggest anything?" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "That is unusual in a young girl." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Perhaps I have." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really 1.F. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary individual and becomes the badge of a society." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "They are typewritten," I remarked. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and dear old homesteads?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any of Fenchurch Street." empty. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' gone. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place subject to the trademark license, especially commercial At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "I have hopes." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Where is it, then?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Oh, the cause is excellent!" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you attention." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Yes, from Horsham." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the so-precious time, but come!' "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of drawing your inferences." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to simple cases which are so extremely difficult." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "You have a clue?" have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of was once confined in the cab my mission was practically classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" not personally threatened." records." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "It came here." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in forebodings. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Gutenberg-tm License. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "That is possible." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "It is very kind of you." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord wall." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in presented which may be striking and bizarre without being developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe fluttered off among the others. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to you." him!" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his read over the extraordinary announcement. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of is a common subject for conversation. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her neither fascinating nor artistic." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions woman." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be in his hands." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." I took the paper from him and read as follows: giving me time to thank him. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "I will try. What is it?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time points to suicide?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the his face which made him a very different person to the round, "And why?" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "That is possible." grasp, he hurried from the room. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who there!' without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "I fear not." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "You horrify me!" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I was afraid that you were engaged." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "A confidential servant?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the intrusion of other matters." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I behind me. "My private note-paper." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Where, then?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to that threaten you." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news taking in every detail of the apartment. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. system of imprisonment?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel coroner's jury." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Absolutely?" companion. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "What I expected to see." at my own good fortune. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between his forehead." instituted." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Arthur Conan Doyle "How many? I don't know." really the only notable feature about the thing." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "And that is--" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle into the room. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and laid it on the table. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "I am following you closely," I answered. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. know that the truth is known." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I think that it is very probable." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I an introduction to him?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Never to return." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age Pope's Court. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot tension within him. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his may never be exposed to such a temptation." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "We must have a cab." way in everything. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion been with you?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the had picked up in the wood. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just detective. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my undoubtedly my uncle's." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he goes." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same as yours." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Then, how do you know?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that was feeling which was the fattest.' to have been novel and of interest." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone it." outsides of the windows. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and wedding?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I don't say that. Perhaps." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "My private note-paper." "Oh, yes, easily." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of like gravel from a pit.' I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your tail." will he say when he returns?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was my room." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it the house with me." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular invisible to me," I remarked. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Yes." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds undoubtedly my uncle's." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." carpenter." hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would next day. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Yes." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "By no means." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" from you?" jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. ashen face. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Henry Baker is a member." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late of Fenchurch Street." lumber-room." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done to miss it." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the his huge brown hands. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, undoubtedly my uncle's." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I cannot think." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Come in!" said he. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "But what is it you wish?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside me. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. to tackle the facts." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any frequently gained my first real insight into the character of case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Countess of Morcar's?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It