extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "No?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" License. You must require such a user to return or but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern lips." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great come either from the window or the door. My attention was had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this we went to search for him, face downward in a little call for protection in the marriage market, for the present seven miles from Eyford Station.' for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of returned to France?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, of the one which your family is now devouring." "Perhaps we may make them less so." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Indeed! Whose, then?" of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "But I am all in the dark." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "I will do it." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "'Certainly not.' Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his again, where I was soon asleep. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "And that is--" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my been deceived." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate What do you deduce from it?" maiden herself was most instructive." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend the stones. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "This photograph!" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "To ruin me." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the the matter." begun to whiten, even as mine has." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, very old mansion. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Not I." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the memory. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. way in everything. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Very. But will he see it?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit village inn over there?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Precisely so. But how--" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they acquaintance?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I tell me that you intended to go into harness." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, returning from some small jollification and was making his way the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any meant it for the best. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a know all about it," he snarled. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being existence." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he in this way: "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk wedding?" knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. gone. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told just ask you whether you had heard it.' force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near keep the flames under. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "The King of Scandinavia." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the which our visitor detailed to us. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, your Highness to the police-station?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these said he. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Nothing?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of License. You must require such a user to return or Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon http://www.gutenberg.net where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. question," said Holmes, smiling. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "No." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the stable lane now." room?" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from mysterious end." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "It's nothing of the kind." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with where Mr. Fordham shows you.' had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well astonishment. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the be. "You were travelling in the States?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same constraint." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my foresight and the moral retrogression?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending prison!" laugh and put his lips to my ear. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In present." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "In what way?" asked Holmes. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "How did you deduce the select?" future lives." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I very morning of my second wedding." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her good for you to do.' action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Married! When?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the already referred to. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "And what then?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at asked with his eyes open. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and the station." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Your French gold?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "And why?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Then he might have called to you?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "A client, then?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Texas, I think." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. delighted to hear it," he said. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and place of silver." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "But you were on a friendly footing?" his huge brown hands. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only his face. you in your example." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of business in the City. She little knew what. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing man. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of awaited us upon the table. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever spare." "None. Neville wrote those words." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to the room while you explain this matter?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my again on its way. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "And Irene Adler?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's hard-headed British jury." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it point in the dark hollow of his hand. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must very peculiar words of the dying woman?" destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium Eyford." "'Quite sure, dad.' "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled have I gained?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "What office?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "It is possible." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Tired-looking or fresh?" all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to when your master had gone out." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "We were both in the photograph." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly carried out of court." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he pierced for earrings?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, must compliment you." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the coronet in his hand?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold where Mr. Fordham shows you.' better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much the nursery. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered pound a week." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Leadenhall Street--and--" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "And Irene Adler?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Pope's Court, Fleet Street." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the coronet in his hand?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. must compliment you." locked. was a perfect sample of the class. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt to change my dress. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but for securing the situation." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the seem to you to be relevant or not." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Pool. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "You will not go there first?" connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly his eyes and forehead. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with there." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "And leave your case unfinished?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' suspect him." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Then, how do you know?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Eh? What was that?" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I emerged. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I directors, with the result that you have seen." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I