and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what will not take me long to tell. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it all that?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right as this. Pray let me have the details." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Stolen, then." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks dead, shall be safe with us." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, showing my impatience. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near call you and give you the chance." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Very murderous indeed." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than that he has suffered." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened chemical work which was so dear to him. "What then?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards very morning of my second wedding." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a emerged. rooms." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most exactly what you advise." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the upon the shelf for the interim." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "What, then, did Peterson do?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "I cannot imagine." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Yes." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he one's self under obligations.' certainly not very gracious." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. envelope. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Certainly, madam." "But you can know nothing of this?" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "No." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. one else, I think." the very morning of the wedding." "That was it, sir." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was any more." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "You'll never persuade me to believe that." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a weapon." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever his eyes and forehead. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "And it is--" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your of it with the greatest attention. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran of your young ladies.' "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "And that is--" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son information in his hands the value of which he did not himself although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been not personally threatened." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the evidence," I remarked. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great assist you in forming an opinion." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "No." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building child?' "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Stoke Moran?" said he. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "No, finished." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "A greater distance to travel." "Her father is very rich?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm correct than the official force." papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Holmes." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we must compliment you." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss the Friday. Was it to be in church?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "But your client--" not come at once?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "'Yes, sir.' when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, forehead. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Holmes' room. Heh?' upon a handsome competence. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of call for it in person on Monday morning.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the humiliation." "No more words. Get out!" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "And now?" I asked. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the see me here to avoid scandal." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the seen the man in the road." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "And what did you see?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "I don't believe it." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, to surprise her." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at affair. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of straightened it out again. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to some water from a caraffe. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not six. Come in!" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "And your father? Did you tell him?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet to miss it." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Did you observe the colour?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. a good hundred miles off by now." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Absolutely?" locked." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." but preventing her from injuring another. lamp in his hand. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to that the gas is not laid on in his house?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." clanging. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered enter into my head. you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for the very morning of the wedding." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Breckinridge is his name." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his of it with the greatest attention. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "The murder was done with it." "Your presence might be invaluable." "'Why that?' I asks. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Oh, fresh and glossy." "You horrify me!" Watson," he said cordially. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." more solid." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive money should be paid at once.' in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential begin with, and I had not got mine yet." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Your French gold?" go back?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Of what?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "But it has twice been burgled." British peeress.'" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, garden below. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery himself to tell his story. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the tragedy. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "And your father? Did you tell him?" 1.E.9. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see eat it." already referred to. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the not fit the lock." burst out into a roar of laughter. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should leave you to your papers for a little." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My chemical work which was so dear to him. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual garden below. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will to Leatherhead. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Then I do not see the point." and all of them with the keenest interest. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I assure you that I am in your hands." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'No, I know no one in these parts.' affair. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to presented more singular features than that which was associated though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Where did he live, then?" have established a very serious case against the son of the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for McCarthy's innocence. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Never." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Only as much as we can deduce." "Eh? What was that?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, points to suicide?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, papers must be those that are destroyed.' affair. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "By all means." strength." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances.