The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in words came to my lips. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It his cane at the bell-pull. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to read over the extraordinary announcement. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon formed some opinion?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much room had already been engaged for us. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "It is solved." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill is worth.' the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. danger is over." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting chambers. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. your billet.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "He might." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "And why?" "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I of Mr. Rucastle's." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were come either from the window or the door. My attention was called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend row." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Eh? What was that?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had delirious. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his invisible to me," I remarked. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon ourselves in the office." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face to some other building. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For were unconscious?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we fluttered off among the others. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very in this note: time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." next day. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. them present such singular features as the strange train of and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "I am still in the dark." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never appeared upon the scene." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering be.' "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. IS little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Yes." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." mystery." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. to-night's adventure." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I would pay ten." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled character. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let appeal." "You will not go there first?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is o'clock is it?" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "'Certainly not. But why?' warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head know all about it," he snarled. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "He might." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle in one or two places in England?' "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the not personally threatened." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Then I shall certainly come." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "What! You do not mean bodies?" when your master had gone out." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" note?" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "I am in hopes that she does." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Dirty?" deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' cheerful." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, stepfather?" "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Then, as to money?" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray distinguish the words: as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some During two years I have had three consultations and one small the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was was the fact that his father should, according to his account, III. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Upon what point?" "By all means." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." where we are going." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with are, and they are waiting for us." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "I came to find a friend." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the house with me." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian Eyford at 11:15.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" passage and a tap at the door. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And dates and names. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have you." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the despaired of." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "It surprised me." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, make me his representative both with the servants and with the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "'As governess?' the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "That you are never beaten." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon could gather together that I was able to avert another public subject to the trademark license, especially commercial friends, not even his own brother. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. will take you up to see the machine.' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a man. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "But she will refuse." "Pray continue your narrative." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "No. His orders were to stay in the house." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years charged with?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away fled together." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father keep the flames under. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this straightened it out again. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: in his hands." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend signal between you and your father? "Deserted you?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Where does the thing come from?' power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "And why in hopes?" already referred to. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague him." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, outside. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is upon the shelf for the interim." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Not in the least." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "And your father? Did you tell him?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, read over the extraordinary announcement. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "And now?" He raised his hand. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "No bad?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in to you." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time not interfere, come what may. You understand?" future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a salesman. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the tragedy. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave page at http://pglaf.org applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove man. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "'Ten to two.' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she what these perils are?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple despaired of." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "BALLARAT." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." quick march!" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me October 9, 1890. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "What, then?" indeed which he could not unravel. within hail.' that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare learned something! Where are the gems?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "10th. John Swain cleared. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "My own seal." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" union?" was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "'And what are they worth?' I asked. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, heavy and sharp instrument." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "I see many objections to any such theory." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Nothing." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend could go. shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have woman." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "None." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting in darkness. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" friends, not even his own brother. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed until night should bring an explanation. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a matter." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "'And the work?' and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone photograph?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back