and I shall be with you presently." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Quite so. She has her freedom." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Nothing." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Eyford at 11:15.' "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." constraint." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the King without delay." "The doctor?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the what is your own theory as to what took place?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. criminal. We have already had experience of such." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Imitated." house for five minutes.' "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "I was sure that I might rely on you." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some fact, we may call it conclusive." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel such person." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very must be when I saw the door open.' but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "What then?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, my special province." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Precisely." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the shaken than I had ever seen him. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the to a more successful conclusion." "An enemy?" words came to my lips. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his in him." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. definite end. character. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "You will not go there first?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: "What! Had he lost his wife?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very my former friend and companion. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. you do it in twenty minutes!' Where does the thing come from?' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "You have compromised yourself seriously." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's your bag." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may may never be exposed to such a temptation." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Eyford." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "It is very kind of you." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the meant it for the best. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "And your mother is alive?" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I done what I asked you, Jones?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs the coronet at all injured?" some terrible trap for her." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. wall." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, do.' will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin relation between them, and what the object of his repeated several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project power." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while strange features which were associated with the two crimes which vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still derbies." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, light and attacked it." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, not as remarkable as your advertisement." stalked out of the room. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down spark where all is dark to me." detective. "'Certainly not.' for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him hand, madam?" heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me case before our client came into the room." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "No, I am descending." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent photograph?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until would apply.' "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the locked." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, lids now and glanced across at his visitor. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "The doctor?" lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary notes," he said. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital may have an influence upon European history." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party key of the affair now." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side papers must be those that are destroyed.' a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some lids now and glanced across at his visitor. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about excitement. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an gone. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was is a common subject for conversation. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by and wait." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Thank you. And your address?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Stolen, then." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "But she will refuse." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." and looked back. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew keep the flames under. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "It looks newer than the other things?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I train.' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular until night should bring an explanation. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give of Fenchurch Street." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." through." miles off. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or woman." was a lad." strength." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the goes." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, you in yours." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "So I am. Very much so." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "He slept on the premises." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of should be so warm over such a trifle." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the both be extremely obliged.' showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked III. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each to you." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Then I can wait in the next room." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. habit of advancing money.' discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." take the flies, but not before." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "And help." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "But what is it you wish?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a fluttered off among the others. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case sparkled upon his finger. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, nothing of it?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Then the page we have seen--" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "How on earth--" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as of the way of danger. "Yes, he did." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." and looked back. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may danger is over." you understand?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has do.' edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it himself in a perplexing position. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "But you were on a friendly footing?" in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "You have it, sir, just as it happened." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's stammered. with the outside air!" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black did not hear it also.' where we are going." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the married her." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler in the port of London." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "The Cedars?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, your co-operation." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking waste of energy." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser know all about it," he snarled. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of him. http://www.gutenberg.net should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted power." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." about. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'Yes, sir.' black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "And what did you see?" have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. you understand?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Then what has happened to him?" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as upon a handsome competence. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what beyond words. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Were they all fastened this morning?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the you give your casting vote to?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got sufficient punishment." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice,