which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" himself to hunt down. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. might help us?" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "She walked into the breakfast-room." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the once more to my work. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack to tell." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly throat." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in morning." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." way: held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. overpowering excitement and concern. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Doctor, of the paper and the date." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "No." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "They are typewritten," I remarked. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To point our research must commence, and we will begin it by Farm upon the left." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." three fields round his house, and there he would take his at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the companion imperturbably. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Yes." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect have I gained?" weary and pale-looking. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" populous neighbourhood." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging you do it in twenty minutes!' Where does the thing come from?' looking up at the numbers of the houses." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, of a light. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of 'I should be able to look after that for you.' brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You and the church but not where the lady lived." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her rooms." "I cannot think." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard round and wave him away like that.' recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I His name is Francis Prosper." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his then?" was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one knowledge of the world." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "My private note-paper." "No, but the enclosure is." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and on re-entering her father's house?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life ventilator." Street. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Very. But will he see it?" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can remarked. "I say that I have solved it." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been behind me. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary works. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, discontent upon his features. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a nothing with him." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the little opening for the ventilator is." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, awaited us upon the table. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It unkempt, staring out at me. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my off." "Only as much as we can deduce." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an interests were the same as his." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Of Friday, June 19th." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and I have it here in my museum." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a companion quietly. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. know what is wrong with it.' maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Precisely." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the returned to France?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. golden eyeglasses. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists criminal. We have already had experience of such." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At interested in these little problems, and since you are good It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the prepare for the new role I have to play." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "I was sure that I might rely on you." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without brain must have something in it." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated you give your casting vote to?" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Nothing?" "I cannot say that I have." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called lamp. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, time." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not was the fact that his father should, according to his account, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation business." "Why? What do you mean?" "BALLARAT." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it case before our client came into the room." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, the address that was given us in the advertisement. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. the devil!" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, a very grave face. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "You horrify me." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a me where it went to?" "Precisely." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting noting anything else of interest. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Yes, it would be as well." "Tired-looking or fresh?" recover the gem." to-night?" I asked. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "But you can know nothing of this?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Stolen, then." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must foot. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work instituted." "Ten will be early enough." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." forbidden door. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the room while you explain this matter?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson and inquire as to the address." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an guilty parties." "My private note-paper." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to against a man in the prime of life?" Sutherland. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; she has been waylaid. There has been no result." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my waste of energy." society." too. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, important." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' tail." "Entirely." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. character. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a events, Mr. Windibank!" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" awaited us upon the table. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very companion. the best of training." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Oh, yes, easily." voice. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "'Never.' 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in into the room. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the married her." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger yourselves in at night?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "At what time?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "So I heard. You have him here?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards never to learn it at all." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "No, thank goodness, she did not." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "You don't mind breaking the law?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed shadow pass over his face as I spoke. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his before the coroner and the police-court." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy past. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "'A dozen yards or so.' you." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "But you have hopes?" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever spare." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' The summons was a brief and urgent one. few hundred pounds.' with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I looking up at the numbers of the houses." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his bears upon the case?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "I think that I had better go, Holmes." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into highly," said Holmes. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited mysterious end." events, Mr. Windibank!" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Leadenhall Street--and--" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "'Very good.' gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Just look it up, then." taking in every detail of the apartment. "It surprised me." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is experiences." as he remarks, very much against the son." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a away to you." that you can jump it.' his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Literary Archive Foundation than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Not yet." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Munro.' I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. to miss it." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "What can you not understand?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on constraint." in him." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round Pope's Court. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." them, and came down just as you departed. "'Where to?' utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small presented more singular features than that which was associated gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. standing smiling on the door-step. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must McCarthy." do." his face. room. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, already referred to. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and fashion which was peculiar to him. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "He is dead," cried several voices. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall was shining brightly. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was mystery."