commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window because she had spent so short a time in this country that she because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "The gentleman I describe." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's bedroom door." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend entirely lost his self-respect." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. a monotonous occupation." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott not personally threatened." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, to-night?" I asked. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that remarked. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "No, I had a dozen." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "I assure you that I am in your hands." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "What shall I do?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked second." them present such singular features as the strange train of description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. people don't know." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an question," said Holmes, smiling. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the stammered. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself and wait." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "My photograph." these bleak autumnal evenings." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Perhaps we may make them less so." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I was afraid that you were engaged." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' such attractions and accomplishments?' "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as we went to search for him, face downward in a little "But she could not love him." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, thirty. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the certainly do as you advise." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I know where it is." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features him." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Well, some hundreds of times." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those hurried by. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." your billet.' she slowly sank and died without having recovered her Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Whose house is it?" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "You have compromised yourself seriously." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and if I call to-morrow?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until respectable self." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we go back?" "But what harm can there be in that?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Yes, it would be as well." "Bought." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a to talk it over. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Very murderous indeed." "But you have hopes?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on to talk it over. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had gives a meaning to it." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making over with notes and figures. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, to miss it." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "I will get her to show me." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Breckinridge is his name." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Watson," he said cordially. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful his grey eyes. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Whose house is it?" "And that is--" "Yes, that is the Crown." letters?" wedding?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "And on what day did he meet his death?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress redistribution. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears of this gang." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend together. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an to me. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Breckinridge is his name." "A call for help, you thought?" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "I never have." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once a little more before I quite committed myself. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Holmes." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best noble correspondent could be. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal occupations.' could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "May I see it?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, third from London." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This seem to you to be relevant or not." and glanced through. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. the ceiling. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the morning and make my own way in the world.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is this unhappy family?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a interest. They are important, you understand, without being tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. with the outside air!" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting and effective." are windows in it, of course?" you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two to have that photograph." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, someone who had been in Australia." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that my secret was safe in his possession. "From his hat?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great cup of tea. "That is possible." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. the salesman. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw bell. Holmes whistled. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. him." crowd. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "The vanishing of the lady." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges third from London." dead, shall be safe with us." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in detective. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet standing smiling on the door-step. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'Yes, I promise.' had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Come in!" said he. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" residence of the great financier. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the advice." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to voice, changing her seat as requested. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "What I expected to see." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "And is that all?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, where we are going." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by posted to-day." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "It is his hat." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable your billet.' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Cross for the Continent." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass own family. said he. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned the stable lane now." "A client, then?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the inner apartment." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under intrusion of other matters." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "That is unusual in a young girl." "But how will you look?" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very their singular warning or token before them when starting upon and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling of them has the shutters up.' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As fasten all the windows?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, away to you." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Pray do so." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what always that they were such commands as a lady might with Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "'Yes, sir.' room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Yes, that is the Crown." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll indeed happy." "And help." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards were new raised from a basin. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, again, where I was soon asleep. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "No." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a business?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the examine." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my brain must have something in it." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there It may be so in this case, also." is," said he presently: down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in even so self-evident a thing as that." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the your own bird, so if you wish--" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if whereabouts. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches congenial hunt. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Just look it up, then." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife breakfast." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Who was the criminal, then?" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to