Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no it." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Very truly yours, and all of them with the keenest interest. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among started for the Temple to see my husband. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident manager. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the I nodded to show that I had heard. front of me. always that they were such commands as a lady might with flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "And how did you find out?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the remarked. closing the door. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Of what day?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet call it cruel." was it brought him the coronet? time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his God! What an exposure! What can I do?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' garden below. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and gone. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite to talk it over. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of address. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "A greater distance to travel." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "You have compromised yourself seriously." guilty parties." "I have my revolver," said I. "Stolen, then." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but paper in the air. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, II. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital possible that we could bring him back to her? hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house tail." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "'And what are they worth?' I asked. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the driver. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The would then never go into court at all." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Entirely." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." have got?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "I cannot imagine." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Sholtos." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. see a sister of mine apply for." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" made his money." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had had died away into the silence from which it rose. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to have I gained?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the iron safe, which he closed upon it. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable in a very precise fashion." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, to have been novel and of interest." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Deserted you?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said This is what he says: round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Will you go?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church me where it went to?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must taking in every detail of the apartment. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" at once, for I have only half an hour." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several ashen face. "That you are never beaten." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried enter Dr. Roylott's room." "One of the highest in England." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "What, then, did Peterson do?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "I am in hopes that she does." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight certainly do as you advise." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I this truth that in these little records of our cases which you floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended I am not easy in my mind about them." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" to tell." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would she might be summoned. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Frequently." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced From what you have told me I think that it is possible that printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. at a side door. taking in every detail of the apartment. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. you." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to said he. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Where is it, then?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers spare." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think introspective fashion. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really all-comprehensive glances. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, figure." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. that he has suffered." and that he would see to anything that turned up. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in strode off upon his way. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a would apply.' spare." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "None. Neville wrote those words." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De she might be summoned. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, that you wished to speak to me?' of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert wedding?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a seven miles from Eyford Station.' "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), from you?" it." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she discontent upon his features. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's McCarthy's innocence. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's I have it here in my museum." said he. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he the south-west, I see." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and been with you?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and that threaten you." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "Stolen, then." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "He disappeared so suddenly." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, which are rolled in Rotterdam." writing, and yet I know it well." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. the devil!" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb thirty. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps happened." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of with her." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "But she will refuse." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "What are they?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I take the flies, but not before." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Very truly yours, carried out of court." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that upon an income of about 60 pounds." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, friend's singular character. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, his fortune, and I went back to pa. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of wife's character?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." occurred." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "It is half-past ten now." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "It is half-past ten now." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, room had already been engaged for us. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have His name is Francis Prosper." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I what I may call a really hard day's work." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "But his left-handedness." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the King without delay." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined village inn over there?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Tired-looking or fresh?" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had laugh and put his lips to my ear. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "And that is--" face and glided from the room. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It just ask you whether you had heard it.' unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "What! a murderous attack?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were answered with a sidelong glance. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "That also I could fathom." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Sholtos." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" bachelor.' By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if