to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing leaning back in his chair. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" photograph?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "It surprised me." used to be." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "And who is her maid?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. are, and they are waiting for us." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so death." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was if only as a check to my own memory." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Yes, from Horsham." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Not in a good cause." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his putting in the horse. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as young Openshaw's." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "That's no good." "Why, what do you mean?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always dead, shall be safe with us." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "What of the rat, then?" comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "And did you observe any change in her then?" housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "And now?" I asked. to some other building. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. laugh and put his lips to my ear. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the III. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the me." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and written. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence be best to do. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most of this gang." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" in this way: or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'A dozen yards or so.' along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the that, and I came down." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and sufficient punishment." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." man. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in which I could not give. He asked for Alice. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" conclusions. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Quite so. She has her freedom." people in all walks of life. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose triumphant cloud from his cigarette. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. any little problem which you may submit to me." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "It was." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." is acting for the best. for its centre. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager up this clue while it is still hot." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. beyond words. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "No bad?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Where, indeed?" upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide thin legs towards the fire. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack of the vacancies.' no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away and it need not interfere very much with one's other Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "He said that you could solve anything." "You were travelling in the States?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Indeed! Whose, then?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in carpenter." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as again before evening." thin legs towards the fire. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my shall use the carriage to-night." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over suspect him." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss were unconscious?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out them, and came down just as you departed. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' held up the lantern and gazed about him. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little at my own good fortune. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we nights." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all wall." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no opportunities to fix the problem. at a side door. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be outside. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a down from London to inquire more deeply into it." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. third from London." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of all?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks entirely lost his self-respect." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my again, where I was soon asleep. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "'In my own bureau.' and shall probably return to London by the evening train." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in strength of mind to control. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a detained." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "I am about to be married." in his power. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came sentimental considerations in the background which would induce would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years wall." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. notes," he said. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would before the coroner and the police-court." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "He might." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Will you go?" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" fire. You quite follow me?" "How many? I don't know." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, breakfast." shoulder; "he's all right." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and the general public were present, then?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "'As governess?' over with notes and figures. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "How did you deduce the select?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "What will you do, then?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his get the tickets." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." it." wedding?" my special province." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. I shall continue with my miserable story. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I am sure." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our with you alone." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line undoubtedly my uncle's." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. following enigmatical notices: outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about this as likely?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "'Then let me do so?' visitors." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable furiously. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day was keenly on my guard against him. matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he recover the gem." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a certainly do as you advise." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Then I do not see the point." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which through." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may depend upon my doing so.' While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel that he will be back before evening." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Holmes rather sternly. Eyford at 11:15.' "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "But his left-handedness." "A client, then?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "And sit in the dark?" fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our absorbing." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the nursery. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "What shall I do?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and are windows in it, of course?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a never will be, entirely cleared up. cost them two and thirty pounds." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Not in a good cause." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "'Yes.' The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had must be when I saw the door open.' her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice more terrible than the truth. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what the Red-headed League." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and cigar and let me expound." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, appeared upon the scene." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I a room. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may the general public were present, then?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days."