chamber." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained results." most interesting one." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have key of the affair now." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert chill to my heart. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more events, Mr. Windibank!" "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he would then never go into court at all." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "I will do it." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Here?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' towards the blaze. "Yes." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "'Yes.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America good for you to do.' sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential distance from the station, and there we found the young lady that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Precisely." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "You think so, too?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case depend upon my doing so.' pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Literary Archive Foundation dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to away in different directions, and I went off to make my own compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon are, and they are waiting for us." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "None." he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me to talk it over. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the papers diligently of late, have you not?" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows recover the gem." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred trifles." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great interests were the same as his." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide the inquest, and which are worth considering." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his here and I will read it to you: managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his some mystery and the punishment of some crime." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very yet." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "I guessed as much." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that believe that I should never have any practice at all. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. hurried away. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity be. This is what he says: compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I in darkness. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to here." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the electronic works our word." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "I have hopes." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Very truly yours, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' trying to your nerves." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, brain must have something in it." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Do you go out much in society?" Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San shadow pass over his face as I spoke. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable seem to you to be relevant or not." "Dark enough and sinister enough." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Then I shall certainly come." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already indeed happy." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "And what did you learn from him?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes call you and give you the chance." matter." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "But he might be a bachelor." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "No, I think that I'll take it." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "It is solved." cigar and let me expound." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of bell. Holmes whistled. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the speckled band?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily lamp in his hand. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless the very letters. But what is this written above them?' occurred." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond The police have openly confessed that they can at present make was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular acted in my house last night?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came so.' if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'Ten to two.' this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence fait accompli?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "How are you getting on?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, against a man in the prime of life?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Entirely." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Here?" have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. What do you deduce from it?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "ARAT," I read. room. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to wanted for ourselves." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is young Openshaw's." read it out to me." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming forbidden door. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "When did she vanish, then?" "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "'What would be the hours?' I asked. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that was a loud and authoritative tap. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and experiences." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and of the way of danger. "But how will you look?" is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. legal crime." "By all means." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean appointment with me for six o'clock?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & if I call to-morrow?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It is his hat." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I woven round him. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "No." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a ago." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son dates and names. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity shoulder. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "But I have heard all that you have heard." outsides of the windows. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between possible that we could bring him back to her? streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with weary and pale-looking. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." been with you?" and your relations to her." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We showing my impatience. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more that he will be back before evening." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and upon the white wrist. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in away into the river." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as even so self-evident a thing as that." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. once more for Briony Lodge. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord habit of advancing money.' drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "'Certainly,' I answered. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the mysterious end." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "And it is--" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded to-night's adventure." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my forbidden door. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could woman who has had her own way to make in the world. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these think you a quite exceptional woman." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it upon the shelf for the interim." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without DISSOLVED. "Where, indeed?" key turn in the lock." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "We have tried and failed." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "So I heard. You have him here?" change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before nonsense.' "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "You have compromised yourself seriously." October 9, 1890. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. lumber-room." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, to have been novel and of interest." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "But not more so than I to find you." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "But his left-handedness." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the crime." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg visitors." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "You have but to name it." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the devil!" deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it province." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, it. "Breckinridge is his name." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my legal crime." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper hard-headed British jury." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "That you are never beaten." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of