eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as questionable one." that threaten you." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an way in everything. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Only as much as we can deduce." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Yes." there has been an enclosure here!" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I don't say that. Perhaps." "'And what salary do you ask?' called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one away to you." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the unprofitable." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into direction." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." detective. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." to miss it." the Red-headed League." late." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my begin with, and I had not got mine yet." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that 'please.'" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "I was afraid that you were engaged." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Nothing." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little help us in this matter." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such is worth.' "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay answer." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, singular points about the case. What did the police think of the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I have a cab outside." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Surrey." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so felt the room to be a little close.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from take the flies, but not before." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as intimate personal affairs in this public manner." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to prisoner's face. "She will not sell." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "And it is--" as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the McCarthy." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? should be so warm over such a trifle." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Quite so. She has her freedom." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the warnings." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the night.' said he. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see envelope. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that occurred." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled would then never go into court at all." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "He is still with you, I presume?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen father's young wife. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again husband's writing, madam." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign go--none." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "It was." "I cannot tell." to surprise her." directors, with the result that you have seen." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, putting in the horse. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. shall not find me ungrateful." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I individual and becomes the badge of a society." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than have been better. It is all right." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of that I can to serve you." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "What do you mean?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his breakfast and whispered something to her husband. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "No, distinctly professional." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT of them has the shutters up.' Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this in a very precise fashion." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own upon the white wrist. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love from the brougham. could gather together that I was able to avert another public but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "I beg pardon." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "You were travelling in the States?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "My opinion is in no way altered." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "And I say east," said my patient. "It is his hat." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" strength in the others." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land this man was intellectual?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight electronic works man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "My last client of the sort was a king." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Eh? What was that?" families. Now for the facts. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall I approached. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "But I am all in the dark." may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to congratulate you again." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to Pope's Court, Fleet Street." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "No good news?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my dates and names. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "By no means." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If later, upon the night of May 2nd." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is and inquire as to the address." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Yes, certainly." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "But his lameness?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "How did he come?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "What then?" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "I cannot imagine." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the way in everything. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, the nursery. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "What then?" other lovers by making love himself." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." weighed down with some great anxiety. me. You must get home instantly and act." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Surrey." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few time." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "But you can know nothing of this?" before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "A client, then?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "And you can do nothing until then?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "No." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "That is not always so easy." other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had this unhappy family?" maiden herself was most instructive." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the to arrive at through this?" "It certainly sounds feasible." "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "In answer to an advertisement." at my own good fortune. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again absorbing." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Perfectly so." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. one else, I think." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, purpose equally well?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "And now?" I asked. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. distinguish the words: this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is detained." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "What of the rat, then?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom written. walking." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily should be so warm over such a trifle." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell back alive. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was official police." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "I would pay ten." is worth.' down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "His face fell immediately. woman." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, said I. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while