"Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were introspective fashion. been." "No." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "In answer to an advertisement." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Well, some hundreds of times." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He appeared upon the scene." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really of your young ladies.' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "What office?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Then I shall certainly come." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place figure." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond tell them apart.' might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something despaired of." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, man. "'Oh, no.' "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the conversation I have gathered that they have been married about one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Yes, it would be as well." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Oh, fresh and glossy." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Gutenberg-tm License. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "At half-wages, in fact." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as For additional contact information: conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while in one or two places in England?' every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to tied." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Absolutely none." meant it for the best. "It looks newer than the other things?" small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was about here speaks of his kindness to him." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the salesman. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. charged with?" "'Yes, sir.' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind singular points about the case. What did the police think of the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon for and were ordered to this address. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Then you may be so with me." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, detective. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Then I am your man." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the is so. I know all about McCarthy." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "The King of Scandinavia." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "I guessed as much." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, the general public were present, then?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had conclusions. "It is a murder, then?" "Deserted you?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott least a fellow-countryman. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural during that time.' his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the have not had my rubber." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual the room while you explain this matter?" The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," it." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the devil!" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "From his hat?" "Married! When?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a again on its way. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. chance at all." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I to me. you." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of these bleak autumnal evenings." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to coat-tails." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched joking. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in The police have openly confessed that they can at present make wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss horse could go." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "No sign of it?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they will he say when he returns?" are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical vanished into the darkness. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Edgeware Road. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Leadenhall Street--and--" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; window when the police appeared." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you putting in the horse. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if a few minutes he said that it would be all right. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Nothing." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, his wife has ceased to love him." any." legal crime." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Thank you. And your address?" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. back alive. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small instincts rose up against that laugh. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled here." "'Why that?' I asks. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "And how have you succeeded?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. wedding?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I hard-headed British jury." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "I say that I have solved it." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the see me here to avoid scandal." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up she might be summoned. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "What will you do, then?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." became a certainty. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean delighted to hear it," he said. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Did you become engaged then?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Deserted you?" as the one I chose?' my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons crowd. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more thin, with a long, sharp nose?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises unclasping of his long thin hands. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was which are rolled in Rotterdam." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Why did you beat the pavement?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to key turn in the lock." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly lamp. gives a meaning to it." opened the door, and slipped through. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. his knees, staring into the fire. "It's nothing of the kind." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the good-night and bustled off upon her way. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family assist you in forming an opinion." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Yes, from Horsham." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "A greater distance to travel." presume?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I will get her to show me." "No." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Did you become engaged then?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "To an end?" father's place of business?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a DISSOLVED. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "We were both in the photograph." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "You will not go there first?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "No, finished." reach." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but forebodings. your equipment. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will matter over." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Witness: It was. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." galvanised. may never be exposed to such a temptation." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the