"I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Holmes. foresight and the moral retrogression?" "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "He slept on the premises." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "And your mother is alive?" "Have you it here?" it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Holmes, the busybody!" remarked. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, my room." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" beyond words. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the not within a twentieth part of the market price." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the him!" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "What is it, then--a fire?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "But how will you look?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age if I call to-morrow?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some DAMAGE. "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to writers could invent nothing more crude." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Literary Archive Foundation "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "'I am sure if I had known--' and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom as he remarks, very much against the son." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through would apply.' is acting for the best. that, and I came down." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from call the police, let the police find what they can.' seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more so.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his Holmes' room. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then records." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "That you are never beaten." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I he died? the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it even of instruction." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "From his hat?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and and inquire as to the address." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If been able to understand it, in a very few words. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. have I gained?" considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was she might be summoned. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "On your arm?" them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I a monotonous occupation." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Dr. Gregory B. Newby spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "It surprised me." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, round and wave him away like that.' "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was appeal." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." voice, changing her seat as requested. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "He might." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his with you?" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "No, I had a dozen." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike that I can to serve you." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "None." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had highly," said Holmes. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the to arrive at through this?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet that you saw all that I did." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with death." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just know that the truth is known." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Entirely." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather fattened it expressly for you.' mysterious end." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Cross for the Continent." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it closing the door. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the Assizes." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to is four-and-twenty." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "And help." trifles." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Very truly yours, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we orange pips. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "What is it, then--a fire?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured there is a decided draught." "No, distinctly professional." woman." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" derbies." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the she used." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "And why in hopes?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the upon the shelf for the interim." chair. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home distinguish the words: "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are stepfather?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "What! Had he lost his wife?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Were they all fastened this morning?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "No, finished." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This been lifted and conveyed somewhere." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any whereabouts. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." salesman. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we emerged. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Won't it ring?" "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "We must have a cab." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his my special province." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure coroner's jury." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "My private note-paper." Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a if only as a check to my own memory." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "And when will you call?" shall not find me ungrateful." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Very. But will he see it?" to me. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly DISSOLVED. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found in a friendly supper." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "The murder was done with it." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life his forehead." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Could he throw no light?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Clair, of Lee." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Well, it is a possible supposition." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to But Holmes shook his head gravely. the dangers which encompass me." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Certainly." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the colour had been driven from his face. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled quickly through a disagreeable task. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in papers diligently of late, have you not?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Deserted you?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I fear not." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "You think so, too?" Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door gone. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may bachelor.' make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Serpentine Avenue. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just own family. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." face and glided from the room. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a floor. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these sooner or later she must fall a victim. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from had this final quarrel? "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the side-table." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "And it is--" "I cannot as yet see any connection." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "How many? I don't know." quick march!" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project McCarthy's innocence. suddenly upon us." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "How many? I don't know." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "And what did you learn from him?" very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "'No, I know no one in these parts.' himself to tell his story. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have absorbing." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous British peeress.'" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "I saw her in conversation with her maid." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I points in connection with it which never have been, and probably standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back