tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the coroner come to?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. matter." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" despair." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by if only as a check to my own memory." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "You have but to name it." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you conclusions. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the just called myself is not exactly my own." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Which are?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "But not more so than I to find you." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of said he. very old mansion. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "What! You do not mean bodies?" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" waste of energy." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Come in!" said he. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Of what?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." little adventures." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "The doctor?" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Ah, but I was recommended to you." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve face and glided from the room. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light bare slabs of marble. "Very much so." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so open." "Yes, from Horsham." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. again." "Yes, he did." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Not particularly." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "And how did you find out?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. your equipment. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and charge against him will break down." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." woman." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known evidence," I remarked. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" your most interesting statement." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Yes?" "Very much so." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of hand, madam?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that have one." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Dark enough and sinister enough." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in forebodings. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't that there was nothing in it, after all." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "And Miss Sutherland?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's your only hope of safety." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may whole matter to your consideration." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "No?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Only as much as we can deduce." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in which I could not give. He asked for Alice. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Indeed! Whose, then?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through sufficient punishment." "Where, then, is my wife?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had your most interesting statement." papers diligently of late, have you not?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "You horrify me!" of the vacancies.' "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his a monotonous occupation." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no colour had been driven from his face. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Sutherland. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard returned to France?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "One?" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Nothing?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." forecastle of an emigrant ship. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I I am not easy in my mind about them." evidence," I remarked. Does that suggest anything?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment three fields round his house, and there he would take his of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." even of instruction." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, face and glided from the room. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. which we had just quitted. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "You think that he is dead?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause have one." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of absolutely follow my advice in every respect." you." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I was mad--insane." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into and glanced through. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I it." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out me." happened." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the inquest, and which are worth considering." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "I was mad--insane." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and drove away. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, him!" before, for it was considerably after midnight. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses appeal." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "You think that he is dead?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he What do you deduce from it?" light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Munro.' I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been burst into a hearty fit of laughter. might have a private word with us. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "What are they?" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Leadenhall Street--and--" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Then, how do you know?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could upon a handsome competence. are, I think, all that we need." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little and have this put in the evening papers." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. with some details as to your case." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the written, and locked the door of the office after me. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. License. You must require such a user to return or "'You doubt its value?' he asked. but preventing her from injuring another. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards swore that no one else had been in the front room during the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in prepare for the new role I have to play." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, was already answered. "And what then?" "No, I had a dozen." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his some mystery and the punishment of some crime." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a it means?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "It's nothing of the kind." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the McCarthy." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may as he remarks, very much against the son." "Here?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "That's no good." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "No." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Well, it is a possible supposition." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. was a loud and authoritative tap. the very morning of the wedding." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's I approached. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of awkward doing business with an alias." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my wedding?" "Yes." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief felt the room to be a little close.' suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an is a common subject for conversation. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a were wasted." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt as he remarks, very much against the son." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So unprecedented a position." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion in this note: graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as investigation." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "And Irene Adler?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "But how?" nice household for a young lady." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, face and glided from the room. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and have got?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the instituted." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Yes." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and key turn in the lock." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Yes." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would details." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their to-night." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "That is unusual in a young girl." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "No, thank goodness, she did not." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of down in his armchair and closing his eyes. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "An enemy?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then