"Then what has happened to him?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "No." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "What are they?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Yes, it was twisted." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong not, dad?" she asked. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him notes," he said. was a lad." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." begun to whiten, even as mine has." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. meant it for the best. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in waste of energy." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to fact, we may call it conclusive." very old mansion. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm here and I will read it to you: Lee, in the county of Kent." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds locked. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "VIOLET HUNTER." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Indeed! Whose, then?" nonsense.' figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey rat could hardly pass through." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our of Fenchurch Street." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his less than 26s. 4d. "We have tried and failed." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "I see no marks." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate to me. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "I saw her in conversation with her maid." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of fatally injured? "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Absolutely?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "But you have hopes?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, conclusions. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Holmes' thin, eager face. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was you." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had must compliment you." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "Thank you. Pray proceed." presented more singular features than that which was associated "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his pressing in one house as in another. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. your co-operation." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Where is it, then?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Now, then, what's the last entry?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and It was close upon four before the door opened, and a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling of the one which your family is now devouring." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "'You cannot say what it was?' "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "So I heard. You have him here?" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of she to prove their authenticity?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his towards the blaze. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been compunction about shooting them down." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "I assure you that I am in your hands." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such you came in." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the together. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" there when the Rucastles went away." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "If so, much may have happened between." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "A confidential servant?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and coroner's jury." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the room while you explain this matter?" as he remarks, very much against the son." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Yes." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his yards of it?' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "'And the work?' upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I cannot imagine." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." cause to be." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we that there was nothing in it, after all." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "And the murderer?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Eyford at 11:15.' varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Yes, from Horsham." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Not him." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your me where it went to?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "What steps will you take?" I asked. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your that, and I came down." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "It was." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack read it out to me." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a again on its way. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to outside. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you have an American origin." is acting for the best. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was details." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'Certainly not. But why?' a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence chill to my heart. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very next day. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "She showed me, as I told you she would." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been girl said." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should down. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my works. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. fishes. the night.' myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his nice household for a young lady." keep the flames under. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, anything to do with the matter?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "No." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it excitement. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "But you have hopes?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been delirious. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Yes, he did." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." one's self under obligations.' "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, not fit the lock." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, papers must be those that are destroyed.' their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while for and were ordered to this address. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, are windows in it, of course?" It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." breakfast." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: your bag." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, notes," he said. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker over here." behind me. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Gutenberg-tm License. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I know where it is." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small ways including including checks, online payments and credit card fled together." hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing done what I asked you, Jones?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "'How far from the body?' the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the examine." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Yes." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is already been minutely examined." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had paper in the air. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? someone who had been in Australia." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "And what did you learn from him?" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are all-comprehensive glances. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea dramatic, in fact." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the the salesman. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing she has been waylaid. There has been no result." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as upon a handsome competence. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." this Miss Turner." "Yes, certainly." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be ventilator." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, gives a meaning to it." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small