yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "'Yes, sir.' fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be case before our client came into the room." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a sneer upon his pale face. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. and wait." Sholtos." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "I am all attention, madam." details." and effective." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "You have it, sir, just as it happened." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many asked. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "Yes, sir." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "I shall be delighted." "There are none." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something of the vacancies.' letters?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business awkward doing business with an alias." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by and the whole place is in a blaze." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his back to my heart. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate where Mr. Fordham shows you.' certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is fire. You quite follow me?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "I will, Miss Turner." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward I was concerned in it." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is clanging. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "What shall I do?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "What shall I do?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the companion. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. straightened it out again. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the past. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me dead, shall be safe with us." your equipment. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution writing, and yet I know it well." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try in. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel go--none." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "But how will you look?" of Fenchurch Street." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as burst out into a roar of laughter. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." the devil!" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but will take you up to see the machine.' promised to bring home. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this your most interesting statement." everything which you would wish to know." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be http://gutenberg.net/license). I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into interest. They are important, you understand, without being I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed Clair, of Lee." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would I am not easy in my mind about them." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I about here speaks of his kindness to him." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any way in everything. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & disappearance of these gems?" "Breckinridge is his name." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door how narrow had been my escape. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was have not had my rubber." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Watson," he said cordially. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Holmes rather sternly. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia three of the beryls in it, was missing. bell. Holmes whistled. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the four million human beings all jostling each other within the thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. Henry Baker is a member." page at http://pglaf.org "What! a murderous attack?" "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of even so self-evident a thing as that." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds disturbance in my wife." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, gentleman's clothes. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "But you were on a friendly footing?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. goes." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of get the tickets." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, think that he is innocent?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time you understand?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry I think that I could be of assistance to you." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Precisely so. But how--" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the roots. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit we went to search for him, face downward in a little stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. gigantic client. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "And I say east," said my patient. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. the matter?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Well, it is a possible supposition." any little problem which you may submit to me." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door back into the street. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls relation between them, and what the object of his repeated wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! in the dead of the night?' it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement you." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "No." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not ready to-morrow?' followed. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'What do you call purely nominal?' in the port of London." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "No more words. Get out!" sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Yes, I have one waiting." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." himself to hunt down. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few is a common subject for conversation. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Of what?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Will you bet, then?" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "No bad?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking answered with a sidelong glance. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "He might." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. that, and I came down." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see tied." October 9, 1890. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "None." Chief Executive and Director As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Dr. Becher's." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "A client, then?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Yes." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "I assure you that I am in your hands." the inquest, and which are worth considering." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down with some details as to your case." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Then how many are there?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "The best possible." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Pool. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. vault. himself to tell his story. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy information in his hands the value of which he did not himself was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "'Entirely.' has little to do with my story." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, with the outside air!" Mrs. Toller serenely. strength of mind to control. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole pressing in one house as in another. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back not fit the lock." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar a monotonous occupation." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, purpose of examination. the so-precious time, but come!' known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. straightened it out again. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Literary Archive Foundation very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Perfectly so." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "And that is--"