stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Deserted you?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan salesman. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Did you become engaged then?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should to have been novel and of interest." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Never." suddenly upon us." "'Oh, no.' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Serpentine Avenue. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "And how did he make his money?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for of a light. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Holmes' face clouded over. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency British peeress.'" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." to talk it over. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her of Mr. Rucastle's." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs other means.' bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, question you as to those details which seem to me to be most and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to relief. minor matters until to-morrow." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a followed. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of fat-encircled eyes. "And you don't know his address?" "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing of." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." License. You must require such a user to return or the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport know what is wrong with it.' elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Never to return." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." this as likely?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in like gravel from a pit.' face and glided from the room. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom some water from a caraffe. hardly wander." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, legal crime." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it thirty. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face But Holmes shook his head gravely. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one quite distinctive." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there was keenly on my guard against him. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, meant." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money more terrible than the truth. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the these bleak autumnal evenings." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Just look it up, then." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "If so, much may have happened between." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His outbreak?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "My dear Holmes!" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with II. "Oh, fresh and glossy." have been better. It is all right." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Not in a good cause." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of and that he would see to anything that turned up. ways of our fellow-men." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this three of the beryls in it, was missing. distinguish the words: had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Pray be precise as to details," said he. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be and that he would see to anything that turned up. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted bill, which interests me deeply." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I was certainly surprised to find you there." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the driver. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the read over the extraordinary announcement. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" any more." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "My dear Holmes!" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely so far?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I cannot as yet see any connection." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I over his head with a sweet womanly caress. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be business." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a get the tickets." "I cannot think." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have lost his Christmas dinner." keep the flames under. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Then how many are there?" "Certainly." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "What! You do not mean bodies?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I of note-paper. It read in this fashion: together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their his face. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be brought there to personate someone, and the real person is It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "'Yes, sir.' about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Absolutely?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Your presence might be invaluable." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Count Von Kramm." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "It's nothing of the kind." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which the ceiling. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too McCarthy's innocence. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "An accident, I presume?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "And leave your case unfinished?" "Upon what point?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Then, how do you know?" allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Does that suggest anything?" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible outside." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "But your client--" fait accompli?" has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as been shamefully used." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that shoulder. "Dark enough and sinister enough." voice, changing her seat as requested. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before despair." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "I say it is." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece of them has the shutters up.' looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a to change my dress. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "I came to find a friend." "I know where it is." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no in the dead of the night?' more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped fishes. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some what is your own theory as to what took place?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not whole matter to your consideration." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I once more to my work. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became generous with you in money matters.' "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly remarked. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Were they all fastened this morning?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you friend's singular character. really the only notable feature about the thing." "Yes, at the mines." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "That is easily got." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "There is the writing." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email felt?" ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Have you her photograph?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm mysterious business." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "She told me to ask you." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we because she had spent so short a time in this country that she enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with good for you to do.' of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little believe that I should never have any practice at all. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair DAMAGE. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, is now desirous of getting those letters back." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat everything which you would wish to know." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, figure." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an to some other building. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from back into the street. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in them, and came down just as you departed. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very were unconscious?" characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be The telegram which we eventually received came late one night and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned where we are going." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need had formerly been in part my own. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless were new raised from a basin. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of waste of energy." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "And I say east," said my patient. "Perhaps I have." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too