Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Come in!" said he. "And who is her maid?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Yes, at the mines." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get in the port of London." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated advice." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to some mystery and the punishment of some crime." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found there in twenty minutes." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, bearing upon the case." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you not come at once?" building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable prison!" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the down from London to inquire more deeply into it." his grey eyes. "Perfectly so." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Yes, that is the Crown." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite could not have written that. It is the German who is so bare slabs of marble. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing nights." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Lee, in the county of Kent." States. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out goes." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before highly," said Holmes. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, closely." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that in darkness. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled off." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' them present such singular features as the strange train of "Did you observe the colour?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "No?" "No legal papers or certificates?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Never to return." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been into her hand at the door and which lured her within their promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Entirely." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "Has he come with you to-night?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "So I am. Very much so." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been into the room. "And you thought he was pulled back?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Nothing?" half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Again Holmes raved in the air. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon goes." carried out of court." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was in this way: occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Stoke Moran." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his never to learn it at all." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I was keenly on my guard against him. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which passage and a tap at the door. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to some other building. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time late." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and upon the white wrist. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when fear." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as stood on the top of it. "But who is he?" "You are all wrong." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester like gravel from a pit.' through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled Where does the thing come from?' read it out to me." "No legal papers or certificates?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may key turn in the lock." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual not as remarkable as your advertisement." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do certainly do as you advise." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "'Certainly not. But why?' and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." orange pips. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had any." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of ceremony." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "How are you getting on?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Pray tell us what has happened to you." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards go--none." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever suddenly upon us." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. jewels which you have stolen?' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "What! You do not mean bodies?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "What!" he roared. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital you." spark where all is dark to me." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found fishes. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and noting anything else of interest. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation upon the sideboard." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with guilty parties." to have that photograph." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Will you bet, then?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "And how in the world did you find them?" of them has the shutters up.' o'clock is it?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This him!" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of ways of our fellow-men." "Ha! you find it so?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite have I gained?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "But how?" "Yes." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the residence of the great financier. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "How long did she speak to this Alice?" in this note: informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "I say that I have solved it." crime. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general was keenly on my guard against him. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I danger is over." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by second window is the one that I jumped from." felt?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "What, then?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the electronic works in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Not yet." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he confronted him. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and have this put in the evening papers." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind comes from the middle window." "But she could not love him." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it and it need not interfere very much with one's other winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "'Yes, it was gone.' "Not social, then?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "Never." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Precisely." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he get the tickets." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two friends, not even his own brother. posted to-day." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "He is still with you, I presume?" I have it here in my museum." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." business." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his in the port of London." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Then the page we have seen--" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On there!' I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." sooner or later she must fall a victim. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the was shining brightly. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "'I shall certainly be there.' whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and goes." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is second window is the one that I jumped from." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "A call for help, you thought?" "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be his face which made him a very different person to the round, of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I she has been waylaid. There has been no result." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and I took the paper from him and read as follows: make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "I will do it." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be subject to the trademark license, especially commercial could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." meanly of me." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I returning from some small jollification and was making his way his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself brandy and water within his reach. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which call the police, let the police find what they can.' the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his