France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." man. I know him from the photograph." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and to me. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Your presence might be invaluable." "Entirely." "Imitated." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare may have an influence upon European history." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until you." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, populous neighbourhood." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the gone before you can get him to hospital." his grey eyes. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Then, as to money?" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Oh, fresh and glossy." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the returning from some small jollification and was making his way "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project fashion which was peculiar to him. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. stepfather?" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing evidence," I remarked. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. house for five minutes.' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the my secret was safe in his possession. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Really! You surprise me." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "I will not look." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "The Coroner: What do you mean? the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "By train from Waterloo." "Certainly." shoulder. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "It is to him that this trophy belongs." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would again, where I was soon asleep. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope business." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine http://gutenberg.net/license). entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We late." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he him to go away.' the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to enter into my head. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "How many? I don't know." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and digesting their breakfasts at home." "By no means." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "And why?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban hour." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "And I." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very will be renamed. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "It missed him, then?" much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Because he was handy and would come cheap." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before you." His smile broadened. depend upon my doing so.' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons out." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the nothing of it?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' gone. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he What do you deduce from it?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. tail." seven miles from Eyford Station.' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am upon the shelf for the interim." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "Why? What do you mean?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." them present such singular features as the strange train of I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If discontent upon his features. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "'And the work?' "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Have you it here?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Does that suggest anything?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual appeared upon the scene." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his bled considerably." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "A call for help, you thought?" business in the City. She little knew what. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low you found me to-night--and running through the front room she few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' distinguish the words: that threaten you." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 was a lad." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. o'clock is it?" John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over garden below. Farm upon the left." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, have an American origin." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front that, and I came down." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Yes." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" to take care of herself." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "Where is it, then?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement several quiet little villages up there." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "You horrify me!" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the visitors." allusion to a rat. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more money should be paid at once.' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "It is to him that this trophy belongs." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "What then?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a respectable self." who was a member of your goose club." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever shag which I had seen upon the previous night. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "And your father? Did you tell him?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "None. Neville wrote those words." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" is a common subject for conversation. asked with his eyes open. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, children over to America with him, so that I found myself without had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps washing it down with a long draught of water. it means?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "And how did you find out?" leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and new duties?' "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at or other trace. But how on earth--" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the back alive. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left that you wished to speak to me?' public press." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." be.' "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers families. Now for the facts. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "You have it, sir, just as it happened." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried should be so warm over such a trifle." "And your father? Did you tell him?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "What will you say?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Certainly." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "Always." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows suggested at once that there must be a communication between the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, the general public were present, then?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am impression behind it as though a window had gently closed threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should shoulder. "No." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Gutenberg-tm License. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of letters?" correct than the official force." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found someone who had been in Australia." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for coroner's jury." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "I fear not." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "I beg pardon." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the trifles." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, 'please.'" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a detective. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He started for the Temple to see my husband. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and not interfere, come what may. You understand?" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary points in connection with it which never have been, and probably and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I have come for advice." "It is half-past ten now." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small in a friendly supper." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go him to be an active member of the medical profession." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'There is a drive, then?' "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you retorted upon me, and I on you." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "The landlord of the Alpha." we went to search for him, face downward in a little minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" and wait." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Did he not advertise?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not fatally injured? exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "It was an hour's good drive." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must forehead. have one." copied or distributed: wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their read over the extraordinary announcement. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only formed some opinion?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we your co-operation." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the DAMAGE. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six