"Bought." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone your most interesting statement." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I gone before you can get him to hospital." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a certainly not very gracious." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect considering the formidable letters which were received by himself the south-west, I see." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "No good news?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Of what day?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some go from here to the Strand." mysterious end." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'I shall certainly be there.' deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has hurried by. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' three of the beryls in it, was missing. "A confidential servant?" he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "One of the highest in England." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the tied." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." seven miles from Eyford Station.' we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of not interfere, come what may. You understand?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "My Mary? Impossible!" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, the address that was given us in the advertisement. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "'Which dealer's?' James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you drawing your inferences." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either opportunities to fix the problem. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "On Monday." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Entirely." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "I beg pardon." "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the fear." have had none more fantastic than this." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "And the cigar-holder?" went to the Alpha were town bred." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the matter." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "He is dead," cried several voices. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the this Miss Turner." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Of what day?" "And why in hopes?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his place of silver." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any colonel looking down at me. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was were unconscious?" wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Never." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. McCarthy." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the becomes even more simple." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "She told me to ask you." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on details." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." sparkled upon his finger. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Very much so." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of situation." you." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Then I am your man." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute this remarkable episode. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Then I shall certainly come." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, was a loud and authoritative tap. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the drawing your inferences." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange man. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it yet." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to letters?" here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Yes, sir." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may throat." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving ready to-morrow?' "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Certainly." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to in a friendly supper." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "You horrify me." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "My photograph." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between fatally injured? "'Where could I find him?' it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California seem to you to be relevant or not." "You have a clue?" "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love tapping his fingers upon the table. voice, changing her seat as requested. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and if she died from some sudden fright." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with me. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "I have a cab outside." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "What have you to say now?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Clair, of Lee." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done other means.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would business?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at goes." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some matter." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a matter over." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. colour had been driven from his face. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his in one or two places in England?' "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to had this final quarrel? very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Of what day?" "Come in!" said he. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "That sounds a little paradoxical." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the my special province." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Yes, only one." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "What office?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and posted to-day." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left look dissatisfied." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune which I could not give. He asked for Alice. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. is worth.' the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety floor. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "And why in hopes?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Yes." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at to-night's adventure." on in his house." of this gang." words came to my lips. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural to arrive at through this?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with out." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "What will you do, then?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "The vanishing of the lady." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other is so. I know all about McCarthy." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first about. business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him and a shock of very red hair. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Yes." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with indeed which he could not unravel. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the address. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "You'll never persuade me to believe that." Mary, has deserted me." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "And how did he make his money?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have trifles." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should future lives." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. our word." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain cigars in the box." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would second window is the one that I jumped from." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. away into the river." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we other lovers by making love himself." "And did you observe any change in her then?" "He might." could not have written that. It is the German who is so "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to really the only notable feature about the thing." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are will not take me long to tell. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek night.' said he. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would was keenly on my guard against him. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "One horse?" interjected Holmes. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. gives a meaning to it." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after him to go away.' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each begun to whiten, even as mine has." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good me. "So I am. Very much so." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "'It is locked up,' I answered. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever of this gang." case-book, which he consulted. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making seen the man in the road." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting disturbance in my wife." depend upon your compliance." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of forehead. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "'Ample.' collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in simple cases which are so extremely difficult." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which was shining brightly. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' reach." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more