though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was you found me to-night--and running through the front room she few hundred pounds.' "Certainly." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and be there in time for your coming." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up speckled band?" "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "And how did he make his money?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, what do you think they found in the pockets?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Munro.' was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. questionable one." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Ah, but I was recommended to you." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Which are?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by have established a very serious case against the son of the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one lectures into a series of tales." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "On your arm?" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the details." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the was not a bird to be seen there. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. morning." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he details should find their way into the papers. Inspector will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Gutenberg-tm License. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. wedding?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was and that he would see to anything that turned up. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I front of the hall door has given its name to the place. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Did he not advertise?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair not within a twentieth part of the market price." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. October 9, 1890. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" purpose of examination. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Tired-looking or fresh?" Holmes. outside." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Did your wife hear all this?" "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "He is still with you, I presume?" him!" "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "How on earth--" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "It is very kind of you." whatever might befall. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they cost them two and thirty pounds." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "How do you know, then?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing call for it in person on Monday morning.' "I assure you that I am in your hands." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "But not more so than I to find you." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any again." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "I cannot tell." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far that he has suffered." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in you do it in twenty minutes!' cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." definite end. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help look dissatisfied." "To an English lawyer named Norton." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Perhaps I have." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check that I may have something better before very many minutes are ceremony." but preventing her from injuring another. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. status with the IRS. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four crime." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' morning." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of the one which your family is now devouring." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in served to weaken the effect. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature is acting for the best. redistribution. morning." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I handed it to him. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "It's nothing of the kind." "We have tried and failed." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Oh, yes, easily." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an to-morrow." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting stammered. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see have accepted such a situation. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." strength of mind to control. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "That is also quite modern," said the lady. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot it." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "The murder was done with it." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the third from London." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime mystery." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most spare." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with o'clock is it?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "'Yes, it was gone.' have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the coronet in his hand?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, lectures into a series of tales." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the it." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "No, I think that I'll take it." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "No, I had a dozen." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. generous with you in money matters.' Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the the stable lane now." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at The note was undated, and without either signature or address. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of over with notes and figures. peculiar to him. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under dear old homesteads?" the Red-headed League." assist you in forming an opinion." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little Arthur Conan Doyle "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Did your wife hear all this?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Pray do so." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Why? What do you mean?" passage and a tap at the door. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Here?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words swore that no one else had been in the front room during the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark which are rolled in Rotterdam." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious friends, not even his own brother. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Leadenhall Street--and--" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Why did you beat the pavement?" "I cannot think." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Yes." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as way in everything. "Nothing?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly and laid it on the table. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "You forget that I know nothing about it." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and For additional contact information: "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" wedding?" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody