was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford crime." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Pope's Court. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic cost them two and thirty pounds." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond strength of mind to control. "How on earth--" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the only touch the interest." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Not I." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to success. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "To an end?" it right.' for securing the situation." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton it with his own hands." "But what harm can there be in that?" "'I have heard so.' the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is him." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "And the cigar-holder?" product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before dramatic, in fact." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, gigantic client. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." situation." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must go from here to the Strand." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder character. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I a few minutes he said that it would be all right. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known entirely lost his self-respect." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every to tackle the facts." important." distinguish the words: "Not particularly." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the inquest, and which are worth considering." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Is he quiet?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's forbidden door. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as particular state visit http://pglaf.org As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "What have you to say now?" upon the shelf for the interim." your room." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Leatherhead. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any she might be summoned. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used could gather together that I was able to avert another public events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "But she could not love him." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of gentleman's clothes. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the cigar and let me expound." "I shall most certainly do so." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "But you have hopes?" was once confined in the cab my mission was practically happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'Entirely.' "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and will he say when he returns?" soul! here is her carriage at the door." "A confidential servant?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the wedding?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my where we are going." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her into the room. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly cigars in the box." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Holmes, the busybody!" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Yes." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will lamp in his hand. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard of the way of danger. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the house with me." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut made him keep the appointment." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of garden below. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you singular points about the case. What did the police think of the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that examination of the premises, but without finding anything which all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with becomes even more simple." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been tightly behind him. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you You can understand that this register and diary may implicate as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it you?" in his hands." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "They are typewritten," I remarked. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to depend upon my doing so.' of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "It certainly sounds feasible." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few became a certainty. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me congratulate you again." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a chemical work which was so dear to him. "'And what salary do you ask?' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and you?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our night.' said he. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Here?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from whereabouts. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." not, dad?" she asked. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and the one as in the other." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "An accident, I presume?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil ourselves in the office." photograph?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that I nodded to show that I had heard. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Clair, of Lee." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," strode off upon his way. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off village inn over there?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in should be so warm over such a trifle." "Entirely." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day floor. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible married her." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, least a most suspicious remark." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to Leatherhead. cigars in the box." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do business at Coburg Square is serious." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is think you a quite exceptional woman." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or may never be exposed to such a temptation." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight which it had come upon my father." "Yes." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "'Then let me do so?' "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that back into the street. me." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your was keenly on my guard against him. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "What!" he roared. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "'I have already given you my word.' fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." other lovers by making love himself." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of place, I think that there is good ground to think that the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Then the page we have seen--" public press." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a business came to an end." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of are, and they are waiting for us." "But how?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened eavesdroppers?' Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Come in!" said he. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "And sit in the dark?" himself to tell his story. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Then you may entirely rely on me." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who friend's singular character. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'No, I know no one in these parts.' It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Literary Archive Foundation anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock you." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim burst out into a roar of laughter. "The King of Scandinavia." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her she to prove their authenticity?" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so to tackle the facts." and looked back. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar considering the formidable letters which were received by himself am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "What then?" certainly do as you advise." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself past. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "How often?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "I promise," said Holmes. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in tear off another piece?' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He relief. "Quite so." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to