weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the running down." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me very morning of my second wedding." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "And for present expenses?" are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will down. the roots. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." fat-encircled eyes. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "And Irene Adler?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to washing it down with a long draught of water. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I this poor creature." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of tied." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "I have solved it." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide of the efforts of the United States government and of the better to a light-house. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague father's young wife. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking said I. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Look there!" said he. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "That is easily got." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Eyford at 11:15.' impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "'Very good.' he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Count Von Kramm." business at Coburg Square is serious." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. question," said Holmes, smiling. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his province." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Do you go out much in society?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. problems help me to do so." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "But I have heard all that you have heard." sound at heart." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing the coronet in his hand?" "But his left-handedness." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a said he. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I was certainly surprised to find you there." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, back alive. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep into the room. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." people in all walks of life. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual such attractions and accomplishments?' is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "The knees of his trousers." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always carpenter." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when floor. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his been deceived." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "No bad?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side there is a decided draught." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "What! You do not mean bodies?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, villagers almost as much as their master. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Certainly." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing occurred." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me point in the dark hollow of his hand. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "The landlord of the Alpha." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." leaning back in his chair. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the thin legs towards the fire. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black security.' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the been." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "How did you trace it, then?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to vague figure huddled up in the darkness. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "What will you do, then?" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I problems help me to do so." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six telegram would bring me down to your help." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Perfectly so." mystery!" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would ago." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "I think that it is very probable." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was eat it." but preventing her from injuring another. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." crime. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, fact, we may call it conclusive." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the said he at last. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at enter Dr. Roylott's room." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made excitement. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "What! Had he lost his wife?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no against a man in the prime of life?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the noting anything else of interest. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the gbnewby@pglaf.org "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "The vanishing of the lady." his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle sake, don't!" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall yet." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching all-comprehensive glances. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little other, as fresh and trim as possible. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that States. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. fire. You quite follow me?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what compunction about shooting them down." and your relations to her." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I will try. What is it?" thought that she would have been so carried away." memory. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who shall not find me ungrateful." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut least a most suspicious remark." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his get the tickets." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Certainly." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Did he not advertise?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is there in twenty minutes." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "The King of Scandinavia." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I absolutely follow my advice in every respect." house for five minutes.' "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an some terrible trap for her." bare slabs of marble. "That also I could fathom." "We have tried and failed." and no precautions can guard against." foresight and the moral retrogression?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a what I may call a really hard day's work." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, better grown goose." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Then he might have called to you?" least a fellow-countryman. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Precisely." "What then?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into bore every mark of being an average commonplace British when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "It missed him, then?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Nothing?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since away into the river." forebodings. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of any more." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "And it is--" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Yes." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "They are typewritten," I remarked. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. will take you up to see the machine.' "I will try. What is it?" lamp in his hand. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Pray do so." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'Tell me all about it,' said I. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "What have you to say now?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away here and I will read it to you: from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying country, and eventually married, without anyone having a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and put his glass in his pocket. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' wedding?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the window, rose as we entered. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he overpowering excitement and concern. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting tassel actually lying upon the pillow. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Witness: It was. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by electronic works after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these habit of advancing money.' buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of floor. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was to talk it over. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of astonishment. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided call it cruel." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, shall not find me ungrateful." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and gentleman's clothes.