"I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master national property. I was determined that the law should have its "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "That was it, sir." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and to where he stood hid behind the curtain. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "I have hopes." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under directors have had misgivings upon the subject." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an six. Come in!" vanished into the darkness. You want to know what became of those geese?" words came to my lips. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the so-precious time, but come!' was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said congenial hunt. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "She told me to ask you." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Then, how do you know?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I there was no need for father to know." than was visible to me." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have I. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you wanted for ourselves." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "You are hungry," I remarked. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that sneer upon his pale face. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "'Very good.' myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. society." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Thank you. And your address?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a see a sister of mine apply for." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the that he has suffered." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing disappearance of these gems?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate figure." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "You have the photograph?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a very peculiar words of the dying woman?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "How on earth--" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "A thing like a cleaver," said he. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was to a more successful conclusion." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'Which dealer's?' suspect him." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO of his shoulders. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "How often?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a be.' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a shoulder. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "The knees of his trousers." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "But the mystery?" "Entirely." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young delirious. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded closely." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that cigars in their mouths. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to ready to-morrow?' room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that whole matter to your consideration." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "So I am. Very much so." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, This is what he says: has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy The summons was a brief and urgent one. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, gone. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "'I am sure if I had known--' with you?" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has not personally threatened." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, lamp. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. once more to my work. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "VIOLET HUNTER." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "'Never,' said I. "Well, some hundreds of times." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young whatever might befall. the coronet at all injured?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Stolen." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away hard-headed British jury." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of and the colonel ushered me in. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever mysterious end." together. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in acquaintance?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "If I can be of use." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with yourselves in at night?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "I am sure." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all 'please.'" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Pray do so." "Certainly." "Nothing." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of of campaign. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the were new raised from a basin. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his when your master had gone out." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: conceal it?" "How are you getting on?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, said I. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she of them has the shutters up.' of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "How often?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. prison!" cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of narrative." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six meant it for the best. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive and all of them with the keenest interest. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we placed his cuttings. happened." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." in one or two places in England?' believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me appointment with me for six o'clock?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, long narrative. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call simple cases which are so extremely difficult." like that before?" "Upon what point?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain again, where I was soon asleep. "And I to find an enemy." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies were new raised from a basin. nights." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." said he. say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." the bed, and you in that chair." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his companion. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white clang of the bell. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear humiliation." skylight. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I later, upon the night of May 2nd." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a depend upon my doing so.' "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "In heaven's name, what for?" ordinary clothes on?" "Not particularly." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "Yes, certainly." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to there has been an enclosure here!" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when locked. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Quite so. She has her freedom." heavy and sharp instrument." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Perhaps we may make them less so." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and crime. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a the general public were present, then?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Stoke Moran." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Ah, but I was recommended to you." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put in the port of London." was a lad." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "I am to be neutral?" might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the what these perils are?" and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Stoke Moran?" said he. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I thin, with a long, sharp nose?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you walking." question. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to strength." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the devil!" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as