hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in you." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "What is it, then--a fire?" naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "At what time?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come eavesdroppers?' has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "And how?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a directly by questioning you." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "I was afraid that you were engaged." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "What! Had he lost his wife?" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "But how will you look?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is hardly wander." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It had a long day." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "A thing like a cleaver," said he. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are *** START: FULL LICENSE *** themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, existence." Foundation "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk new duties?' contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Did you observe the colour?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The will find little credit to be gained out of this case." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been one's self under obligations.' have got?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" whole matter to your consideration." from the brougham. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made in the dead of the night?' all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no the coronet at all injured?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Certainly, madam." do.' came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from asked with his eyes open. "You are all wrong." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a you." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." woman." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. row." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting question you as to those details which seem to me to be most better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have plantation.' her also." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "An enemy?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'Why that?' I asks. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been until night should bring an explanation. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered could go. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. at my remark. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "And how did he make his money?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." breakfast." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." strength of mind to control. Farm upon the left." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then spare." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "You have but to name it." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "So I am. Very much so." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is in the hope of finding them." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you depend upon your compliance." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the morning." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for lids now and glanced across at his visitor. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and o'clock is it?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has of Mr. Rucastle's." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still bedroom door." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "The gentleman I describe." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here so.' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "She showed me, as I told you she would." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Then, how do you know?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the me have 200 pounds?' anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, detective. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "And it is--" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent to-night's adventure." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich all-comprehensive glances. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we in a friendly supper." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." so far?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most ceremony." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, night.' said he. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "He disappeared so suddenly." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Holmes. acted in my house last night?" "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger to where he stood hid behind the curtain. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at wedding?" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "No." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "I cannot as yet see any connection." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the answered with a sidelong glance. "How many? I don't know." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of imbecility!" he cried. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three way in." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Certainly." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll that you wished to speak to me?' "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he call for protection in the marriage market, for the present he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray leaning back in his chair. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out outside. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle new acquaintance to Baker Street. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the matter." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had you do it in twenty minutes!' evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag affair. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy introspective fashion. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For points to suicide?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "And for present expenses?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "I say that I have solved it." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Foundation active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There and have this put in the evening papers." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said was it brought him the coronet? income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, visitors." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we paper in the air. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "I was sure that I might rely on you." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed little trying to do so much typewriting?" II. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a business at Coburg Square is serious." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to to-night." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with was once confined in the cab my mission was practically agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler and wait." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "The Coroner: What do you mean? "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, before, for it was considerably after midnight. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is thin legs towards the fire. peculiar to him. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the very morning of the wedding." "I have come for advice." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "I think that it is very probable." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "My private note-paper." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt me. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both to that open window." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Look there!" said he. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "What have you done?" asked Holmes. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the this Miss Turner." tell them apart.' the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was the inner apartment." who was a member of your goose club." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Do you go out much in society?" of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the the morning and make my own way in the world.' found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, foresight and the moral retrogression?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it gone. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church how narrow had been my escape. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the depend upon my doing so.' greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "To the police?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was following enigmatical notices: "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Yes." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! joking. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Street. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "So I am. Very much so." "And your father? Did you tell him?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE burst into a hearty fit of laughter. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. be best to do. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "By all means." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and glanced through. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Very well, sir. And this stone?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the Red-headed League." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. asked. "And how in the world did you find them?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "How did he come?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "And how?" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce and put his glass in his pocket. that you saw all that I did." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true."