telegram would bring me down to your help." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. entirely lost his self-respect." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was notes," he said. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and skylight. the dangers which encompass me." "Could he throw no light?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties invisible to me," I remarked. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Dirty?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two fled together." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE best detective that ever lived. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will better in every way that they should make their position a little were new raised from a basin. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it look dissatisfied." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the of a light. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes business at Coburg Square is serious." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those During two years I have had three consultations and one small "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between forbidden door. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Ten will be early enough." green of the new foliage. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly fatally injured? society." enter Dr. Roylott's room." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Only as much as we can deduce." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the might help us?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Texas, I think." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may investigation." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Precisely so. But how--" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "They are typewritten," I remarked. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, not personally threatened." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Who was the criminal, then?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her my room." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull to Leatherhead. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw feature." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, problems help me to do so." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with cigars in their mouths. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "You are certainly joking, Holmes." depend upon my doing so.' you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "And I say east," said my patient. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes bird I ate is country bred." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Not in a good cause." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest bare slabs of marble. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." from you?" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain some city in a dream. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" do.' of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. again on its way. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the very morning of the wedding." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the this poor creature." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. where she found matters as described by the last witness. carried out of court." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are certainly do as you advise." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Precisely so. But how--" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Nothing?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with once more for Briony Lodge. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something bedroom door." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as room. your Highness to the police-station?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "And now?" I asked. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "What then?" have got?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to giving me time to thank him. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Did your wife hear all this?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a read it out to me." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "Witness: Nothing definite. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. at once, for I have only half an hour." purpose equally well?" that morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does your most interesting statement." during which he might have communicated with his friend the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear sound at heart." "No legal papers or certificates?" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A as he remarks, very much against the son." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I should like to see him very much." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and country, and eventually married, without anyone having a The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and is entirely a question of barometric pressure." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that John Swain, of St. Augustine. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon name is different." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the or other trace. But how on earth--" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Your presence might be invaluable." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too off." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the to a more successful conclusion." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Yes, he did." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "How are you getting on?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "There are none." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in I shall continue with my miserable story. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "But you were on a friendly footing?" most interesting one." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "How did he come?" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned door?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed bill, which interests me deeply." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much present strange and interesting features that it is no easy self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a for securing the situation." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their affection." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Yes." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Never.' Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it most important business. It is probable that he will be away all From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very it with his own hands." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "And why?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the the stones. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every in the port of London." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "And I to find an enemy." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more detained." woman." Sutherland?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, was used.' danger is over." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "The King of Scandinavia." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned made him keep the appointment." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I have a cab outside." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same second window is the one that I jumped from." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I since then to throw any light upon what became of him." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Yes, the wine-cellar." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as may never be exposed to such a temptation." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, you came in." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' jewels which you have stolen?' and the whole place is in a blaze." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not case-book, which he consulted. closing the door. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I gone. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition face and glided from the room. "And how?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the disturbance in my wife." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say beg that you will break it off." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, at a side door. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a see me here to avoid scandal." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his coroner's jury." morning." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon there." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, McCarthy." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "What! You do not mean bodies?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, entirely lost his self-respect." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend writers could invent nothing more crude." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must strong and stiff." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my the dangers which encompass me." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An detective. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the the armchair which I pushed forward for him. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through noting anything else of interest. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked dramatic, in fact." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is served to weaken the effect. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long in darkness. "Never." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Were they all fastened this morning?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and name is different." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. himself to hunt down. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not a good hundred miles off by now." the side-table." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself not use it unless it is absolutely needed."