for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." face and glided from the room. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "But you were on a friendly footing?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria in. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with and glanced through. "'Yes, I promise.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the ceiling. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Well, some hundreds of times." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Yes, but only for you and me." as this. Pray let me have the details." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be tied." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." important." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She his forehead." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Her father is very rich?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, McCarthy's innocence. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" that, and I came down." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait observed. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised was a loud and authoritative tap. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I invisible to me," I remarked. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to politicians who had been sent down from the North. "And did you observe any change in her then?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "But you were on a friendly footing?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute breakfast?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I promise," said Holmes. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to there!' still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and cigars in their mouths. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises envelope. for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "One of his hands." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared quickly through a disagreeable task. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort mysterious business." papers." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." words came to my lips. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. some terrible trap for her." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to front of the hall door has given its name to the place. nonsense.' my friend's incisive reasoning. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while shall not find me ungrateful." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'You cannot say what it was?' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "When did it break out?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. remarked. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, do.' butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "'Where could I find him?' considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "He is still with you, I presume?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's works. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "I shall be delighted." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "What have you done?" asked Holmes. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will vault. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. forbidden door. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then guilty one." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. his eyes and forehead. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do this man was intellectual?" "Well, some hundreds of times." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, you give your casting vote to?" or other trace. But how on earth--" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. help us in this matter." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the south-west, I see." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with here and I will read it to you: very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Then the page we have seen--" "Precisely so. But how--" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will without success. At last the little money which I had saved began a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I acted in my house last night?" "You are hungry," I remarked. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and said Mr. Holder. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat disappearance of the bride.'" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am to you." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for points in connection with it which never have been, and probably treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name assist you in forming an opinion." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I to his chemical studies. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of horse could go." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and floor. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the coronet at all injured?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "On your arm?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried absorbing." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe tell them apart.' towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'Quite sure, dad.' convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell union?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is your own bird, so if you wish--" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Yes, he did." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my followed. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. seem to you to be relevant or not." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and are, and they are waiting for us." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were business in the City. She little knew what. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with before the coroner and the police-court." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. will take you up to see the machine.' should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more that he will be back before evening." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination newspaper selections." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Munro.' charged with?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of daring than any effort of the imagination." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, British peeress.'" "'Yes, sir.' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to do.' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "None." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and of your young ladies.' closing the door. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Not yet." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a standing smiling on the door-step. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may open." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "I guessed as much." chair. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "The King of Scandinavia." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." morning." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "There are none." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "I should like to see him very much." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Well." sake, don't!" outside. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, attention." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be cup of tea. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "The best possible." "A confidential servant?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, three fields round his house, and there he would take his down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Come in!" said he. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round fire. You quite follow me?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "By all means." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "And you thought he was pulled back?" there is a decided draught." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who records." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Murdered?" "It is a murder, then?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For she slowly sank and died without having recovered her figure." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." suddenly upon us." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "I came to find a friend." "And on what day did he meet his death?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a could not account in any way for the presence of the missing in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "No bad?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as showing my impatience. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I observed. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" have an American origin." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in shoulder; "he's all right." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of with some details as to your case." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had which I could not give. He asked for Alice. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." letters?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "How did you trace it, then?" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" neither fascinating nor artistic." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and purpose of examination. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "I have a cab outside." "Not particularly." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "I shall most certainly do so."