"It is solved." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Very truly yours, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "I cannot tell." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Again Holmes raved in the air. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Then I can wait in the next room." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of quickly through a disagreeable task. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. other means.' my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were I am not easy in my mind about them." the night.' utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "But his left-handedness." what these perils are?" fact, we may call it conclusive." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen constraint." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers very morning of my second wedding." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "My Mary? Impossible!" "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming me have 200 pounds?' them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point purpose equally well?" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "I see many objections to any such theory." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a is now desirous of getting those letters back." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "I see many objections to any such theory." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Yes, he did." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he investigation." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I is four-and-twenty." "None." round and wave him away like that.' was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more few hundred pounds.' "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." upon the sideboard." and no precautions can guard against." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." empty. lips." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread fuss that is made over them." companion imperturbably. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its me where it went to?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "If I can be of use." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have tied." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry arrangements." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a from the brougham. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his wanted for ourselves." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Yes, all." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to grasp, he hurried from the room. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Come in!" said Holmes. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Nothing." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Then I am your man." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and spare." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he disappearance of the bride.'" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the little opening for the ventilator is." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that presented more singular features than that which was associated education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in was a perfect sample of the class. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a have I gained?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "You have it, sir, just as it happened." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" security.' of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "If so, much may have happened between." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the What do you deduce from it?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Oh, the cause is excellent!" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "It looks newer than the other things?" "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down sooner or later she must fall a victim. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had the bed, and you in that chair." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he already referred to. ran thus: judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered ashen face. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss tension within him. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "How can you tell that?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had you, my dear young lady?' dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out be there in time for your coming." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Holmes' face clouded over. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of note?" just called myself is not exactly my own." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "My dear Holmes!" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged are windows in it, of course?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which impression behind it as though a window had gently closed client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the reach." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return more solid." "My Mary? Impossible!" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and that he has suffered." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger felt the room to be a little close.' was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning fuss that is made over them." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "What is it?" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Is he quiet?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire the child." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. asked with his eyes open. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the you want, then?' however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking During two years I have had three consultations and one small "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked anything to do with the matter?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "But how?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Where, then?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the is worth.' brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you in my life." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Was she in good spirits?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know quite distinctive." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, envelope. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "No legal papers or certificates?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. allusion to a rat. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "He slept on the premises." I shall communicate with you." someone who had been in Australia." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was awkward doing business with an alias." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' purpose equally well?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Ten will be early enough." William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I suspect him." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Certainly." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "And that is--" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to key of the affair now." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." nothing of it?" garden below. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "When did she vanish, then?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "'I shall certainly be there.' Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less the address that was given us in the advertisement. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not would apply.' evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the a good hundred miles off by now." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Yes." in the port of London." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to charge against him will break down." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian characteristics, but those are the more obvious." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat desk. trying to your nerves." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three get the tickets." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was directors have had misgivings upon the subject." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose would apply.' reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Where did you address your letters, then?" "'I am sure that I do not know.' Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" secret." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love photograph a cabinet?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." you want, then?' "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of best detective that ever lived. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the away into the river." assist you in forming an opinion." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my it with his own hands." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each