silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Texas, I think." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "I am following you closely," I answered. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. fatally injured? to that open window." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our together. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Not in a good cause." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "And who is her maid?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from me where it went to?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "But she will refuse." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "The doctor?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." hair?' work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." http://www.gutenberg.net shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those presume?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said his forehead." whatever might befall. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. that he has suffered." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily exactly what you advise." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to very old mansion. "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Come in!" said he. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to to-night." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "What! a murderous attack?" next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and other lovers by making love himself." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation of it with the greatest attention. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept The summons was a brief and urgent one. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not what these perils are?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard fashion which was peculiar to him. suddenly upon us." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the her also." do you make of it all?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to meant it for the best. business came to an end." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the outside. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of tied." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Certainly." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the you understand?" upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'Is purely nominal.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the as the one I chose?' slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel detective. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "Then how many are there?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are danger is over." "My own seal." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she enter into my head. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," own family. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of business in the City. She little knew what. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am asked with his eyes open. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as salesman. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a leaning back in his chair. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "That you are never beaten." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "We have tried and failed." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so all-comprehensive glances. least a most suspicious remark." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As some city in a dream. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office on in his house." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "I cannot as yet see any connection." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. I think that I could be of assistance to you." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I fear not." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official tied." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things o'clock is it?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "The landlord of the Alpha." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "My dear Holmes!" "Very truly yours, "So I heard. You have him here?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be to-morrow." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: goes." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Yes, certainly." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having public press." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "This concluded the examination of the witness." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was than to us. became a certainty. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting thirty. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I public press." "Very truly yours, Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Was there a secret marriage?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this one else, I think." "What have you to say now?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of province." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what papers must be those that are destroyed.' bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. where we are going." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP particular state visit http://pglaf.org even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "And now?" He raised his hand. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the loss of it. easy-going way." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" would apply.' and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope salesman. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so in his hands." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of fish-monger and a tide-waiter." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said tear off another piece?' "In heaven's name, what for?" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside upon the white wrist. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable sufficient punishment." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. answer." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His events than those which have happened in my own family." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Did you observe the colour?" "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "No." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' existence." enter into my head. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Absolutely?" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in client, rising. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The weigh very heavily upon my conscience." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to nice household for a young lady." "Was she in good spirits?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "Eh? What was that?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Not yet." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you some terrible trap for her." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything DAMAGE. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Proceed, then." "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I there." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an behind me. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Oh, the cause is excellent!" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: there was no need for father to know." "This concluded the examination of the witness." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" to-night?' providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from must be when I saw the door open.' she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He despair." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Nearly eleven." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the shaken than I had ever seen him. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line it." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." politicians who had been sent down from the North. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. out of this horrible affair." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no mystery may be cleared along those lines." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Literary Archive Foundation in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should one of the states of the Union." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "We must sit without light. He would see it through the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Yes, certainly." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our and files of the old papers, following the future career of every words came to my lips. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been some terrible trap for her." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a matter over." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Pope's Court, Fleet Street." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this foresight and the moral retrogression?" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's