large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Farm upon the left." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction of note-paper. It read in this fashion: bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Not social, then?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "'Is purely nominal.' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Imitated." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his coat-tails." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "You will not go there first?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "We were both in the photograph." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "You think so, too?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is your sleep?' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had the one as in the other." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." was used.' shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I cannot say that I have." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Thank you. Pray proceed." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. do.' the tragedy. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "What will you say?" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we nice household for a young lady." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my the one as in the other." "How did that help you?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern answer." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I arrangements." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "But to whom?" client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Yes." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When signal between you and your father? "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "We must sit without light. He would see it through the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the devil!" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." delighted to hear it," he said. wife's character?" security.' "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you gbnewby@pglaf.org strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Why did you pick him?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination this Miss Turner." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do morning." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the said I. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should promised to bring home. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured for securing the situation." ceremony." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the knowledge of the world." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to there was no need for father to know." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. south, for the country is more deserted there." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, and a shock of very red hair. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon his face. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "But of what society?" Holmes' room. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the your billet.' month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which not within a twentieth part of the market price." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I beg pardon." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause and looked back. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, I leave." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a of note-paper. It read in this fashion: much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into a monotonous occupation." name is different." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "I cannot imagine." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the official police." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her o'clock is it?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Why serious?" part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a the little opening for the ventilator is." and it need not interfere very much with one's other central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Sholtos." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "On Monday." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "The Coroner: What do you mean? impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who strength of mind to control. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her use an arc-and-compass breastpin." fuss that is made over them." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. must be when I saw the door open.' Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." good-night and bustled off upon her way. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was floor. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it business." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "'What then?' I asked. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "So I have heard." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "'Stolen!' he cried. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," a little more before I quite committed myself. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "And you can do nothing until then?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "I beg pardon." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his in one or two places in England?' "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does woven round him. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual few hundred pounds.' suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly brought there to personate someone, and the real person is used to be." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Quite so." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Farm upon the left." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "The landlord of the Alpha." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the stood on the top of it. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Pray do so." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "I should like to see him very much." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only him." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge companion quietly. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "It is a murder, then?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong was shining brightly. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less trying to your nerves." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. within hail.' only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "My own seal." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very bird of prey. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Why did you beat the pavement?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an purpose equally well?" "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have himself. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "But you have hopes?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Witness: I must still refuse. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "You think that he is dead?" came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Stoke Moran." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of asked. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," redistribution. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and public press." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes weapon." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "And the cigar-holder?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover for securing the situation." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that then?" exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "I will try. What is it?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "He is still with you, I presume?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. notes," he said. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a article?" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very matter over." her also." very old mansion. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the station." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell investigation." happened." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he friends, not even his own brother. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little wife's character?" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter success. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased maiden herself was most instructive." I held the little printed slip to the light. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to important." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I yet." Stoke Moran." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and For additional contact information: sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "But she will refuse." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton