British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "You horrify me." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the good-night and bustled off upon her way. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. in the hope of finding them." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias meanly of me." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "But she could not love him." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "The vanishing of the lady." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "But you can know nothing of this?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "To an end?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, it." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, in his power. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. there in twenty minutes." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a that I can to serve you." presented more singular features than that which was associated drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "He said too much." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel with you alone." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must some terrible trap for her." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. everything which you would wish to know." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform hands. "I never have." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would waste of energy." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, was a perfect sample of the class. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a lamp in his hand. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "How on earth--" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "I have a cab outside." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and whole matter to your consideration." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and prove to be little relation between the different incidents of with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "And how did you verify them?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of speckled band?" ceremony." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "To an English lawyer named Norton." posted to-day." "I guessed as much." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Nothing?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings for securing the situation." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "No, my brougham is waiting." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a hereditary King of Bohemia." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some bachelor.' B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Oh, fresh and glossy." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. hands. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." rose-bushes. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much in my life." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "I know where it is." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, is a common subject for conversation. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. look upon these things in a different way." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock hour?' "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to wife's character?" "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "But you can know nothing of this?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "If I can be of use." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "But she will refuse." noting anything else of interest. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" redistribution. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "'Yes.' up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Imitated." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Pope's Court. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Young McCarthy must be got off, however." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "No?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "That is unusual in a young girl." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie you came in." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. I nodded to show that I had heard. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I your only hope of safety." flock.' had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." my friend's incisive reasoning. companion quietly. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," in one or two places in England?' a monotonous occupation." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little mystery may be cleared along those lines." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "'As governess?' hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get not as remarkable as your advertisement." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at stood on the top of it. "We were both in the photograph." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head following enigmatical notices: endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. his fortune, and I went back to pa. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came the coronet at all injured?" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "We have tried and failed." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the must be when I saw the door open.' the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and as yours." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to fled together." "Yes." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with of campaign. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." works. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still said he, "my real name is James Ryder." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time respectable self." woven round him. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so other, as fresh and trim as possible. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Not in the least." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is October 9, 1890. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We The summons was a brief and urgent one. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "My dear Holmes!" of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "One of his hands." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly observed. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small your room." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the closing the door. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the of it with the greatest attention. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some his forehead." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of which we had just quitted. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her companion imperturbably. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax presume?" thirty. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I new duties?' "Nothing." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, weighed down with some great anxiety. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He seven miles from Eyford Station.' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "You are all wrong." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt good-night and bustled off upon her way. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "'Yes, it was gone.' LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I fear not." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Entirely." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting not personally threatened." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a are, and they are waiting for us." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, you do it in twenty minutes!' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but