the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very in this way: enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." several quiet little villages up there." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears passage and a tap at the door. how narrow had been my escape. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." present." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "No, finished." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the his fortune, and I went back to pa. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Nothing." "He slept on the premises." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "No legal papers or certificates?" "Where, indeed?" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose said he. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Here?" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had man. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, quick march!" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has beyond words. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford what is your own theory as to what took place?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "That was it, sir." been able to understand it, in a very few words. stood on the top of it. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the any." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "An accident, I presume?" galvanised. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is signal between you and your father? I have it here in my museum." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain suddenly upon us." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" to talk it over. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said used to be." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to hard-headed British jury." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." down. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely case-book, which he consulted. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Was the window open?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Heh?' continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became to me. always that they were such commands as a lady might with freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon power." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Who by?" "I am all attention, madam." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a shoulder. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before only touch the interest." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most at a side door. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "You have it, sir, just as it happened." Leadenhall Street--and--" "I was sure that I might rely on you." ways of our fellow-men." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "That's no good." strength of mind to control. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. retorted upon me, and I on you." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "And I to find an enemy." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I dates and names. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some own family. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." the inner apartment." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get residence of the great financier. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Come in!" said he. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet where we are going." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "And Miss Sutherland?" "At half-wages, in fact." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "None." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been must compliment you." "What can it mean?" I gasped. a suggestive one." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have mysterious end." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "The landlord of the Alpha." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. gone. "It surprised me." instituted." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "When did it break out?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." breakfast." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Where did he live, then?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" not, dad?" she asked. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Surrey." help us in this matter." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, think that any burglar could have done. used to be." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance public press." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "You have it, sir, just as it happened." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom despair." it." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is you give your casting vote to?" I approached. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To photograph a cabinet?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Where, then, is my wife?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg go back?" breakfast?" I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together true." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." take the flies, but not before." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless annoyance, but no jest. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of side. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all served to weaken the effect. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and any." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that was lame." "But who is he?" wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. up this clue while it is still hot." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an take the flies, but not before." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, conceal it?" "Has he come with you to-night?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few orange pips. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' to-night?' Sutherland?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this as he folded up the epistle. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Does that suggest anything?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! when your master had gone out." character. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster indeed happy." "Yes." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" husband's writing, madam." the warnings." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the yet." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from you." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting stood on the top of it. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Entirely." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. of the vacancies.' contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do of it with the greatest attention. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "'Entirely.' work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me is a common subject for conversation. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." your co-operation." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Then he might have called to you?" "May I see it?" how narrow had been my escape. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the became a certainty. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy matter." "Stolen, then." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an main points of my analysis." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "My photograph." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Why did you pick him?" you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he trifles." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very legal crime." the warnings." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have me have 200 pounds?' "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Then what has happened to him?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "He said too much." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, will take you up to see the machine.' pictures, libraries, or plate. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'No, I know no one in these parts.' and your relations to her." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "That is not always so easy." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "I don't believe it." "'Certainly not. But why?' attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "The gentleman I describe." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." the matter?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I third from London." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose forbidden door. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "About a month then." "And when will you call?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Eyford." His name is Francis Prosper." answer."