It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "I have seen the police." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. or in danger--" Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "But she could not love him." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, conclusions. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. approach us with offers to donate. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless union?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and annoyance, but no jest. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, McCarthy." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the this Miss Turner." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" of a light. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "The doctor?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Yes, he did." "Stolen." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "No legal papers or certificates?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Dr. Becher's." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other bonnet, and went out." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and standing smiling on the door-step. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Yes, they were peculiar boots." business." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "You forget that I know nothing about it." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "About a month then." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project spare." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Yes." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the stood on the top of it. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "'I am sure that I do not know.' "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Watson," he said cordially. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of that I can to serve you." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what are windows in it, of course?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "How did he come?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend invisible to me," I remarked. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "I shall most certainly do so." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Two days later this same performance was gone through under companion. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the is," said he presently: which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be at home. "I don't say that. Perhaps." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. I shall communicate with you." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "And help." "'Which dealer's?' client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself empty. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the you in your example." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me about. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Not particularly." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was know that the truth is known." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and there has been an enclosure here!" "I have my revolver," said I. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project ill-usage at the hands of fortune. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "How are you getting on?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that o'clock is it?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other think that any burglar could have done. weighed down with some great anxiety. over part of the map. "What do you read?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the that?' girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'Yes.' deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, society." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Bought." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "I cannot as yet see any connection." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Very much so." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "I have a cab outside." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to detained." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said has little to do with my story." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking sooner or later she must fall a victim. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "No." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of derbies." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Was there a secret marriage?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "What then?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Edgeware Road. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Not in a good cause." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "It looks newer than the other things?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "And why?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the chance." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my annoyance, but no jest. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly pierced for earrings?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by not come at once?" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Frequently." "It is true that I have been generally successful." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Street. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "I am still in the dark." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear through." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from or other trace. But how on earth--" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, his face. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we row." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project roused himself from his reverie. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "I was sure that I might rely on you." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were and inquire as to the address." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Sholtos." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the shadow pass over his face as I spoke. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the inquest, and which are worth considering." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Precisely." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "But he might be a bachelor." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Deserted you?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low situation." 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 inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the said Mr. Holder. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I think that it is very probable." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "'I am sure that I do not know.' "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "'Ample.' slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. matter." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter a very grave face. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some You want to know what became of those geese?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made unkempt, staring out at me. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "'And what are they worth?' I asked. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." and I shall be with you presently." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a eat it." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "'Yes, sir.' make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices fish-monger and a tide-waiter." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or the best of training." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the unkempt, staring out at me. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "On your arm?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some individual and becomes the badge of a society." "What do you make of that, Watson?" I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, my secret was safe in his possession. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "9th. McCauley cleared. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies ran thus: that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless that there was nothing in it, after all." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts you?" and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the light and attacked it."