heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that locked." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your to-night's adventure." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a definite end. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major was lame." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a me, and I could not think that his explanation of the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. directors, with the result that you have seen." despaired of." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the fait accompli?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried and looked back. "Of what?" the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over nonsense.' "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Sholtos." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used legal crime." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "By no means." "'Certainly,' I answered. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon she used." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "That also I could fathom." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are that he will be back before evening." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Doctor, of the paper and the date." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these been." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "It must be recovered." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a conduct the inquiry." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced affair. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's useful material for showing traces. The double line a little thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, companion imperturbably. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Did you observe the colour?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. before the coroner and the police-court." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his bird of prey. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "I think it very unlikely." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar sooner or later she must fall a victim. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe never came back." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all quickly through a disagreeable task. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I from you?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the undoubtedly my uncle's." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all three fields round his house, and there he would take his "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Then the page we have seen--" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "I fear not." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the he. do.' double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said man. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax walking." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." know that the truth is known." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "None." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I your troubles." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you disappearance of these gems?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Of what day?" existence." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of bore every mark of being an average commonplace British manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was entirely devoid of interest." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made not come at once?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking as yours." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham which I could not give. He asked for Alice. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "I have come for advice." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it during the last few years, and there are many noble families to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. me." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it quick march!" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Foundation reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott that threaten you." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds of this gang." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away remarked. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "If so, much may have happened between." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "But he might be a bachelor." Where does the thing come from?' The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate most important business. It is probable that he will be away all shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from before, for it was considerably after midnight. one of them." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "At what time?" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most events, Mr. Windibank!" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw already referred to. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "The doctor?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what obstinate." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California green of the new foliage. province." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in stood on the top of it. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "And from a noble client?" you want, then?' "Stolen." "Where, then?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. the running down." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a visitors." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "What will you say?" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "And how did you find out?" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "Of what day?" saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." of the way of danger. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen ill-usage at the hands of fortune. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I cannot as yet see any connection." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with cigars in the box." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, presented more singular features than that which was associated ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar thirty. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Ten will be early enough." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They forehead. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "One of his hands." amused." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I cannot imagine." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a sound at heart." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every DISSOLVED. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "You heard nothing yourself last night?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "How about poison?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "But to whom?" of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' said I. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. nothing with him." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "The murder was done with it." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Project Gutenberg-tm works. "My dear Holmes!" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand your most interesting statement." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, morning." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, events than those which have happened in my own family." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt union?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly within hail.' "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "And on what day did he meet his death?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' such person." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large his wife has ceased to love him." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I was mad--insane." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my any more." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have man. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers 'I should be able to look after that for you.' lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in threw himself down with his face to the pillow. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Were they all fastened this morning?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. a very grave face. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you the child." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Never to return." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm clanging. "I cannot say that I have." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet,