use an arc-and-compass breastpin." how narrow had been my escape. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your himself. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his away in different directions, and I went off to make my own with frightened eyes at his accuser. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were here." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Certainly." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. It may be so in this case, also." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat will not take me long to tell. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "'You cannot say what it was?' such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle ill-usage at the hands of fortune. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but events than those which have happened in my own family." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "'What would be the hours?' I asked. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and south, for the country is more deserted there." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the house with me." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that tension within him. noting anything else of interest. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Pope's Court. outbreak?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire the matter." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "An enemy?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City once more. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination fact, we may call it conclusive." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a again." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles perplexity from it to my illustrious client. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense drove away. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to to-night?" I asked. observed. putting in the horse. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there less than 26s. 4d. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at out." there!' "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I answered that I had not. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very as this. Pray let me have the details." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard will take you up to see the machine.' breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair himself to hunt down. "And for present expenses?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I beg pardon." fear." "The knees of his trousers." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me you in your example." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and upon the sideboard." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the young Openshaw's." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Sutherland. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' unclasping of his long thin hands. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between a little more before I quite committed myself. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "No. What a strange idea!" voice. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "But how?" union?" "That is it on the dressing-table." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I tell me that you intended to go into harness." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put cheerful." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "But how?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Not him." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been a very grave face. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. is so. I know all about McCarthy." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." following enigmatical notices: part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, once more to my work. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Imitated." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Your sister is dead, then?" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I upon the sideboard." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Why did you beat the pavement?" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "Well, it is a possible supposition." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "And you can do nothing until then?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "By all means." "I answered that I had not. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you signal between you and your father? hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Dirty?" little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." desk. individual and becomes the badge of a society." of campaign. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Then you may be so with me." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Get out!" said he. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There away in different directions, and I went off to make my own are, and they are waiting for us." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Absolutely none." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "What?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "But she could not love him." "In heaven's name, what for?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: it were putty." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to once more for Briony Lodge. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, legal crime." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. ordinary clothes on?" This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with throat." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend details." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the wedding?" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I joking. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour whereabouts. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I points to suicide?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "I don't believe it." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their of fine shops and stately business premises that they really behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "No." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret one of them." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in because she had spent so short a time in this country that she respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two redistribution. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Certainly." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "'In my own bureau.' "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over What do you deduce from it?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said depend upon my doing so.' I think that I could be of assistance to you." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man out." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I was sure that I might rely on you." affair. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' happened." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I criminal. We have already had experience of such." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them character. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'Yes.' "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "The gentleman I describe." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated been." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these upon the sideboard." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of awkward doing business with an alias." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring of the way of danger. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "We have tried and failed." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "But you can know nothing of this?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Won't it ring?" a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "And did you observe any change in her then?" "'Yes.' turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker you, my dear young lady?' to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William This is what he says: have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them a monotonous occupation." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Proceed, then." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of indiscretion." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "He is dead," cried several voices. lumber-room." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Nothing?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble fear." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "My last client of the sort was a king." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I cannot imagine." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the get the tickets." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness dead, shall be safe with us." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day memory. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn