of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a call for protection in the marriage market, for the present years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "I never have." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' sneer upon his pale face. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. out of this horrible affair." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "On the contrary, this is the right side." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Certainly, madam." "I will not look." I took the paper from him and read as follows: pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. window when the police appeared." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we humiliation." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must confronted him. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her south, for the country is more deserted there." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "What, then, did Peterson do?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the mystery may be cleared along those lines." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed to-night?' machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "No, I think that I'll take it." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. guilty one." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." said he. "But what harm can there be in that?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. the room while you explain this matter?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it good-night and bustled off upon her way. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "It is to him that this trophy belongs." room?" "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "You did not overhear what they said?" "But who is he?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door copied or distributed: already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The wedding?" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Doctor, of the paper and the date." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his details should find their way into the papers. Inspector not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "It is to him that this trophy belongs." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' a monotonous occupation." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "It is very kind of you." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a was not a bird to be seen there. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "'Not at all. I only doubt--' depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically Foundation "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my you?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "'About the same.' whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Perhaps I have." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "I will get her to show me." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. have been better. It is all right." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "You have the photograph?" "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in one which it was hard to resist. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Chief Executive and Director "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Witness: I must still refuse. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Project Gutenberg-tm works. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest during which he might have communicated with his friend the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'Is 4 pounds a week.' some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Then, as to money?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, allusion to a rat. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Did your wife hear all this?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." 11:15.' "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "I think that it is very probable." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "I will get her to show me." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. the coronet at all injured?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "You have but to name it." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Never." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Upon what point?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "No sign of it?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself security.' danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was was not a bird to be seen there. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Your presence might be invaluable." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to other means.' "I beg pardon." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same recover the gem." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture believe that I should never have any practice at all. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "What shall I do?" she used." him, that man would not have given me such complete information lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been four million human beings all jostling each other within the read over the extraordinary announcement. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that chemical work which was so dear to him. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he Eyford at 11:15.' shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "But his lameness?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that take the flies, but not before." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to my secret was safe in his possession. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, hand, madam?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards instituted." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Was he the only applicant?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the is," said he presently: address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have which our visitor detailed to us. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Thank you. Pray proceed." once more to my work. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I promised to bring home. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this been." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend there was no need for father to know." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Project Gutenberg-tm works. upon the shelf for the interim." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Nothing." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Is he quiet?" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the exactly what you advise." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "And from a noble client?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "From his hat?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may hour?' discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. envelope. works. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Stolen." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Witness: I must still refuse. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Not in a good cause." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my did not hear it also.' the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "He disappeared so suddenly." "If I can be of use." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared over part of the map. "What do you read?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis be sorry for having acted so harshly." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and of note-paper. It read in this fashion: danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be to talk it over. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to that, and I came down." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "To the police?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" presented more singular features than that which was associated "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed it." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to that he will be back before evening." quick march!" building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "But you were on a friendly footing?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort me. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in for securing the situation." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the foot. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "'I am sure if I had known--' was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a again." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your a monotonous occupation." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "You saw the ventilator, too?" feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "He slept on the premises." "So I am. Very much so." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should been." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had been shamefully used." page at http://pglaf.org and I shall be with you presently." invisible to me," I remarked. shall use the carriage to-night." "That is easily got." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, here and I will read it to you: the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a dear old homesteads?" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the the general public were present, then?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "She will not sell." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you