"'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Sholtos." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Has he come with you to-night?" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "'What are you doing there?' he asked. business in the City. She little knew what. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "At the wedding breakfast." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a a good hundred miles off by now." key turn in the lock." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Perhaps I have." occurred." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "I will not look." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" hour." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "May I see it?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a bedroom door." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Was he the only applicant?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "'Ample.' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the mystery!" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was have been better. It is all right." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest house for five minutes.' when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt could not have written that. It is the German who is so While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in vanished into the darkness. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in habit of advancing money.' therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of other, as fresh and trim as possible. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "It is his hat." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been infinite languor in his face. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. lost nothing by them." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "And how?" we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Of what day?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up nonsense.' address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him something of him before." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Then I shall certainly come." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, fled together." "We were both in the photograph." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he enter into my head. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his nothing of it?" husband's writing, madam." "Perfectly so." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "When did she vanish, then?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Yes, from Horsham." roused himself from his reverie. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been returned to France?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "'Certainly not.' which are rolled in Rotterdam." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, nothing of it?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "By no means." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "It certainly sounds feasible." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you lamp in his hand. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return him and tried to hold him back. "That is easily got." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "What office?" "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'Quite sure, dad.' "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Yes, there are nearly always some there." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how what these perils are?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Perhaps we may make them less so." pressing in one house as in another. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Countess of Morcar's?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "I would pay ten." despaired of." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable if I call to-morrow?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The seven miles from Eyford Station.' Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "On Monday." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong vault. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Deserted you?" heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him mysterious business." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, have accepted such a situation. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. third from London." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." his eyes and forehead. know all about it," he snarled. "Indeed! Whose, then?" lips." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "I am in hopes that she does." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said cup of tea. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in his grey eyes. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Sutherland. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me shall use the carriage to-night." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the to Leatherhead. the matter." crime." national property. I was determined that the law should have its questioning and rather startled gaze. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed there is a decided draught." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous union?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. himself to tell his story. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "No?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have mystery." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "You are hungry," I remarked. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful amused." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "My own seal." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Ample." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too get her out of the way." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "That also I could fathom." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg observed. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all once more. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "I think that it is very probable." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You of." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. like that before?" little adventures." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still sneer upon his pale face. keep the flames under. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And bears upon the case?" discontent upon his features. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the side-table." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" was not a bird to be seen there. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible problems help me to do so." "It looks newer than the other things?" here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, What do you deduce from it?" was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "They are typewritten," I remarked. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "The knees of his trousers." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the tragedy. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" would then never go into court at all." "What! You do not mean bodies?" forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I it? Did I buy the geese off you?" be there in time for your coming." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the more solid." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Entirely." a little more before I quite committed myself. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal gentleman's clothes. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Where does the thing come from?' had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark me upon any point which I do not make clear." suddenly upon us." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "No, finished." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa careless servant girl?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout that you wished to speak to me?' could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his unclasping of his long thin hands. which we had just quitted. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "I have hopes." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a I leave." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I there." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which his wife has ceased to love him."