"Come in!" said Holmes. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "And you don't know his address?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Not in the least." "And leave your case unfinished?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the man. I know him from the photograph." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should tail." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one she used." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for one or two very singular points about this room. For example, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Yes, that is the Crown." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "You know me, then?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate eat it." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the be best to do. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." look dissatisfied." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain lips." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Deserted you?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "'You cannot say what it was?' light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be strength in the others." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of discontent upon his features. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Dr. Becher's." "Precisely." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming what do you think they found in the pockets?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "What! a murderous attack?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "What is it?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just him and tried to hold him back. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "My dear Holmes!" investigation." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "It is possible." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "How are you getting on?" have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "But you would not advise me to refuse?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Very murderous indeed." matter." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Ten will be early enough." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and I. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "It is true that I have been generally successful." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have and the whole place is in a blaze." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your notes," he said. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." keep the flames under. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," advice." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? passage and a tap at the door. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, mystery!" one of them." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address the window, rose as we entered. "Yes, only one." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Pray continue your narrative." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of is worth.' fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I am all attention, madam." remarked. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my threw himself down with his face to the pillow. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper his huge brown hands. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. south, for the country is more deserted there." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A information in his hands the value of which he did not himself have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, me. You must get home instantly and act." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "And when will you call?" all?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I assist you in forming an opinion." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and your relations to her." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Whose house is it?" "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "On your arm?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Serpentine Avenue. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Quite so. She has her freedom." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of when your master had gone out." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "I don't believe it." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so the bottom.' I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that said he at last. "But who is he?" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and is entirely a question of barometric pressure." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "But she could not love him." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Awake, Watson?" he asked. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without status with the IRS. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would ways of our fellow-men." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what spare." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not me." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes at home. "By no means." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present felt?" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "He might." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly green of the new foliage. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are nothing with him." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled go from here to the Strand." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the off." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the friend's singular character. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "None." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He colour had been driven from his face. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to happened." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard The summons was a brief and urgent one. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with not within a twentieth part of the market price." I. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "And how have you succeeded?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." business matters.' "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, observed. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Murdered?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "It goes to the housekeeper's room." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to strong and stiff." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. must be when I saw the door open.' me. You must get home instantly and act." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, do.' insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has to tell." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she over part of the map. "What do you read?" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to to that open window." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be nonsense.' We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was said he, "my real name is James Ryder." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "It certainly sounds feasible." handed it to him. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "You forget that I know nothing about it." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "She told me to ask you." the child." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included present." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally them present such singular features as the strange train of three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there might help us?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in train.' out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold recall any case within my experience which looked at the first the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Stolen, then." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. that?' interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such individual and becomes the badge of a society." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Eh? What was that?" liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "I see many objections to any such theory." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should spark where all is dark to me." of." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "I cannot imagine." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a directly by questioning you." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My his face which made him a very different person to the round, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel nonsense.' fluttered off among the others. security.' presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the really the only notable feature about the thing." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "What then?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "What, then?" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but security.' Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is